All to play for on final day of Lord's Test as England and Australia trade blows on thrilling Day 4

England roared back into the match on day four of the second Ashes Test, but a brilliant evening with the ball from Australia saw the tourists move into the ascendancy at Lord’s. Ben Stokes’ England employed the short ball to superb effect to blow Australia away in their second innings, leaving the hosts with a victory target of 371. Ad Australia were still in the ascendancy with runs on the board, and they ended the session on the front foot after ripping through the top order to leave England 114 for 4 at stumps.

CricketEngland facing big chase in second Test after Australia dominate third dayYESTERDAY AT 17:22 England elected to employ the short-ball barrage that proved so successful for Australia’s bowlers in the first innings, and it also paid off. Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith initially elected to evade rather than play the short ball, which led to a holding pattern in the game. England’s pacers persisted and Khawaja (77) eventually blinked, and was caught at deep backward square leg off the bowling of Stuart Broad.

Smith, who had been totally untroubled in making 34, succumbed four balls later. He elected to help a short ball round the corner and only succeeded in picking out Zak Crawley on the boundary at backward square leg. Travis Head (7), who was dropped first ball when playing the cut shot, went into defensive mode but he too departed as he fended off a short ball and Joe Root took an excellent diving catch at short leg.

The catch moved Root clear of Alastair Cook at the top of the list of England fielders in Test cricket with 176 victims. Although holding a substantial advantage, Australia looked a shade wobbly at 197 for 5 — a lead of 288 — and Alex Carey and Cameron Green set about a rebuild. The