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Brook’s shot reminiscent of Gatting
Mike Gatting has lived with the ignominy of an incredibly poorly advised reverse-sweep for almost 40 years, losing his head and his wicket in the 1987 World Cup final for Australia to claim a historic victory.
Well, Gatt’s got company.
Harry Brook, what are you doing?
Loose as anything, off balance, didn’t cover his stump, not to mention the game state, which he seemed to understand until this point.
Nathan Lyon spinning right on through to peg back his off stump and swinging the momentum back Australia’s way.
Watch: Brook gets himself out
England are 4-178 with Crawley and Stokes batting together after Brook’s dismissal.
WICKET: Lyon bowls Brook
Harry Brook is stunned. He doesn’t believe Lyon has bowled him.
He went forward and tried to sweep but Lyon beat his bat and his off-stump.
England are four down. Lyon is up and about.
Bumper time for Brook
Starc and the Aussies rolled out a plan to pepper Brook with short balls last over and, while it had him swinging his bat, it didn’t bring much return.
One of Starc’s short balls went so high it was ruled a wide.
But it has added some drama to an already tense final hour.
The Barmy Army are singing strongly as the sun begins to dim.
England 3-176 chasing 435.
Harry Brook of England bats during day four.Credit: Getty Images
Head almost gets Crawley
Travis Head came back on with his off-spinners and he almost beat Zak Crawley.
The England opener danced down the pitch but was beaten by a fizzing ball which jumped his bat but smashed into his thigh guard and went wide of keeper Alex Carey.
Travis Head throws himself into an appeal for lbw.Credit: Getty Images
If Carey got that ball, Crawley was well outside his crease.
Batting won’t get any easier on this pitch as the match goes on.
England are 3-153 chasing 435 with a little more than an hour left in the day’s play.
This game is delicately poised
Harry Brook and Zak Crawley aren’t giving an inch, especially to Scott Boland, as this game is delicately poised.
Another wicket or two and a collapse could follow, judging from England’s play in earlier Tests this series, but Brook and Crawley don’t want to give up this match.
It feels like the time for a return to the bowling crease for Mitchell Starc or Pat Cummins is fast approaching.
England are 3-141 chasing 435.
Zak Crawley raises his bat for a half century on day four.Credit: Getty Images
Boland causing trouble
Scott Boland had Harry Brook struck on the pad late in the last over, and he was pinned on his crease with Alex Carey keeping up to the stumps.
Boland gave a big shout but Carey and Cummins opted against taking a review to check it, and they were right with the Kookaburra sliding down leg.
Harry Brook bats on day four.Credit: Getty Images
But this pitch is starting to deteriorate and Lyon, Boland and the Aussie bowlers are finding ways to exploit it.
England are 3-131 chasing 435 with Crawley 52 and Brook 7.
Brook starting unusually slowly
Harry Brook looks to be playing within himself right now as England take stock after losing Root.
Cummins has bowled 10 overs. It will be interesting to see if he brings Lyon back now or has another over for himself.
It’s just after 4pm AEDT and the teams will likely play until at least 6pm AEDT.
England are 3-123 chasing 435 to win with Crawley on 47 and Brook on 4.
Australia’s Pat Cummins, left, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of England’s Joe Root during play on day four.Credit: AP
Your view: No shot, no umpire’s call?
WICKET: Root is gone, shades of Lillee from Cummins
Pat Cummins has got Joe Root once again.
Just an over after he was almost dismissed by Travis Head, Root trudges off for 39.
Joe Root of England walks off the ground after being dismissed by Pat Cummins of Australia for 39.Credit: Getty Images
Cummins forced the edge from Root, and it sailed safely into to Carey’s gloves behind the stumps.
England are three down now.
From Daniel Brettig:
Pat Cummins chimes in on cue to get Root caught behind in a now familiar fashion.
He is a breakthrough wicket man in the class of Dennis Lillee.
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