The Ashes 2023: England takes a giant lead in 5th Test (Day-3) Match Report (England vs Australia)

Day-3 of England vs Australia’s fifth test of the Ashes 2023 once again saw the hosts making a strong bounce back against Australia by putting a total of 389/9 on the scored board, thereby generating a significant lead of 377 runs. Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow & Zak Crawley played a pivotal role in bringing England back on track with their superb innings of 91, 78 & 73 runs respectively. Though, Starc remained the most effective bowler with 4/94, but this could not stop the hosts from taking a giant lead.

The Ashes 2023, 5th Test (Day-3): How England innings went

England got to flying start on day three with Crawley & Duckett smashing first 50 runs within just 9 overs. At a score of 79, Duckett became the first one to depart for pavillion when Duckett got a slight edge off his bat, gone straight away to Carey. Though umpire Dharmasena initially gave him a not out, upon DRS review, Duckett was declared out, thereby missing out his fifty.

Next came the skipper, Stokes who along with Crawley built a good partnership of 61 runs taking England to a total of 140 runs before Crawley fell prey to Cummins when he got an edge off his bat directly the ball straight into the hands of Smith at second slip. Crawley scored 73 off 76 balls including nine boundaries. The English side kept scoring runs at a good run rate wherein they completed their 150 runs in just 29 overs. The next batting pair, Stokes & Root built another crucial partnership 71 runs, taking England to a 200-run mark by 39th over.

At a score of 213, Murphy gave third breakthrough to the Aussies when he claimed the much needed wicket of the English skipper when he played a misjudged shot leading to a catch straight into the hands of Cummins at mid-on. Meanwhile, Root completed his aggressive fifty off 42 balls which included 8 boundaries and one six. The next blow for England came much sooner than expected when their in form batter Harry Brook departed for just 7 runs by Hazlewood who got him caught behind.

The Ashes 2023, 5th Test (Day-3): Root & Bairstow’s 100-run partnership

The next batting pair of Root & Bairstow remained the pivotal one as both added 110 runs to the total, ensuring England to take a giant lead. Meanwhile, Bairstow completed his half-century and England cross the 300-mark. At a score of 332, England lost Root’s expensive wicket who scored 91 and thereby missed out his century which included 11 boundaries and one big one. By now, England lost its top five wickets and from hereon, started a spell of falling wickets quickly.

Moving forward just 28 runs, England got another blow as Bairstow, who at an individual score of 78, gave away his big wicket to Starc by getting an edge off his bat leading the ball straight to the wicket keeper. Within a matter of next two overs, England lost its 7th wicket as Woakes, in an attempt to play a shot towards mid-off, got caught by Khawaja. Starc gave another breakthrough to the Aussies when he claimed the wicket of Moeen Ali who tried to play a big shot for six but got brilliantly caught by Hazlewood at the boundary.

Within the next two balls, Wood became the last batsman of the day to depart for just 9 runs when at a score of 379, he got caught by Marsh at deep wicket when played a sweep shot on a delivery by Murphy.

The Ashes 2023, 5th Test (Day-3): At Stumps

At stumps, England were 389/9 with tail-enders Broad & Anderson on the crease. England innings is expected to get wrapped up quickly on day four’s first session, in a matter of a few overs. If Broad & Anderson are able to take England to a 400-mark, it would be a great achievement for both of them as it might create a perceived pressure on the Aussies of achieving a 400-run target.

BRIEF SCORE: Day-3 (5th Test), England vs Australia, The Ashes 2023
England: 283/10 (Brook 85, Duckett 41, Woakes 36, Starc 4/82, Murphy 2/22, Hazlewood 2/54)
Australia: 295/10 (Smith 71, Khawaja 47, Cummins 36, Woakes 3/61, Broad 2/49, Root 2/20)
England:  389/9 (Root 91, Bairstow 78, Starc 4/94, Murphy 3/110)

England lead by 377 runs

The Ashes 2023, 5th Test (Day-3): Match Details

• Venue: Kennington Oval, London, England
• Dates: 27 Jul – 31 Jul
• Toss: Won by Australia, Chose to Bowl first
• Umpires: Joel Wilson (WI) & Kumar Dharmasena (SL)
• TV umpire: Nitin Menon (IND)
• Reserve umpire: David Millns (ENG)
• Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SL)
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