Staff Reporter.
England’s Joe Root is bowled by Australia’s Pat Cummins.
England are facing defeat in the second Ashes Test after captain Joe Root fell in the final over of day four against Australia in Adelaide.
Root edged behind off Mitchell Starc to what proved to be the last ball of the day, as England closed on 82-4.
It was a bitter blow to the hopes of the tourists, who need to bat out the final day for a draw, having been set a nominal 468 to win.
Root, unable to take the field at the start of the day because of injury, dug in for 67 balls for 24 and looked poised to end unbeaten alongside Ben Stokes, who is three not out from 40.
England had lost opener Haseeb Hameed in the second over of their innings when he gloved a rising length ball from Jhye Richardson behind for a duck.
Dawid Malan was trapped lbw for 20 by Michael Neser and Rory Burns batted for 95 balls, only to edge Richardson to second slip for 34.
Earlier, despite losing three wickets for seven runs in a bizarre first session, Australia moved from 45-1 to 230-9 before declaring an hour before tea.
On a turning track and with the benefit of another session under the lights possibly to come on day five, the hosts look primed to take a 2-0 series lead.
Australia vice-captain Travis Head: “Root is a huge wicket, he is in fantastic form. I have a lot of sympathy for him – it wasn’t a great time to get hit.
“They’ve still got some quality players. Nathan Lyon will play a massive part, the ball is turning.”
England bowling coach Jon Lewis: “They will try to survive the day tomorrow to get ourselves out of this game with a draw. It’s a big ask I know.”
Australia: David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith (capt), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jhye Richardson, Nathan Lyon
England: Rory Burns, Haseeb Hameed, Dawid Malan, Joe Root (capt), Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler (wk), Chris Woakes, Ollie Robinson, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.