AUS v ENG, 3rd Test Preview: Australia one step away from regaining the Urn

Two comprehensive and ruthless performances from Australia left their archrivals desolated and the hosts have one hand on the trophy. Powered by one of the finest innings in Ashes history from Shaun Marsh, the Adelaide Test took interesting turns and entertained everyone, but eventually, the Aussies finished on top.

Adelaide registered a record-breaking attendance throughout the five days of the Test with closely 200,000 people entering the stadium. Being a day-night game just made it all the more entertaining and picturesque. It will be an emotional moment for all the Australian fraternity as they will probably playing their final game at the WACA, a ground revered as a paradise for fast bowlers.

England looks very pale as of now and they seem to be lacking the X-Factor to go past the Aussies. They made a wonderful comeback in the second innings, but it was all too little too late. Batting department isn’t clicking well and they need their main men to stick along for longer durations. But to be completely honest, expecting a fairytale comeback from the English side is like waiting for a ship to arrive at Airport.

Australia (Probable XI): Cameron Bancroft, David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith (capt), Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon

England (Playing XI) Alastair Cook, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Joe Root (capt), Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Craig Overton, Stuart Broad, James Anderson

Focus will be on

Nathan Lyon (Australia)

Nathan Lyon is really proving himself as one of the best spinners to have emerged from Australia. He is becoming a pain in the back for the English as he keeps chipping in with crucial, match-winning wickets. He already made Alastair Cook his bunny and he will be keen to make his mark and regain the Urn with a thumping victory.

Joe Root (England)

The English skipper played a gem of a knock in the gigantic run chase at Adelaide, but as always, he fell short of a hundred and England fell miles short of their target. They need a big inning from him very badly and there is no else to look up to in this team right now. He already had two half-centuries, which barely had any impact on the result. Big knocks win you matches and no one needs a big one more than him.

Playing Combinations

Australia

The hosts will be trusting Cameron Bancroft for the rest of the series as he will open the innings alongside David Warner. With Khawaja coming in at number 3, skipper Steve Smith will follow at number 4. Marsh brothers, Shaun and Mitchell will follow with wicket-keeper Tim Paine coming in at number 7.

The three-man pace attack is doing a wonderful job currently. Mitchell Starc, Patrick Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood are collaborating brilliantly together and all of them are amongst the wickets. Nathan Lyon too has been sensational thus far and he will be looking to add more wickets to his tally.

England

A landmark occasion for Alastair Cook as the opener will be playing his 150th Test match for England. He will open alongside Mark Stoneman, with James Vince at three. Root will take the number four spot and Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes will follow.

James Anderson and Stuart Broad will yet again lead the lines for the English. Craig Overton was brilliant on his debut, but failed to have a match-winning impact. Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali are trying to fill in Ben Stokes’ boots, which they haven’t done properly as yet.

StatAttack

8 – Alastair Cook becomes the 8th cricketer to play 150 Tests, first opener to achieve this feat and also the first from his country.

24 – With a win percentage of 55, Australia registered 24 victories at WACA.

163 – David Warner needs 163 more runs to finish as the all-time highest run scorer at the WACA.