England have produced yet another swash-buckling innings to put themselves in full control of the fifth Ashes Test at stumps on day three.
Beginning Saturday trailing by 12 runs, England turned that into a 377-run advantage as they hit a magnificent 389-9 from just 80 overs.
With bad weather expected late on Sunday afternoon and throughout Monday, it was plausible that Ben Stokes could have declared with half-an-hour remaining, yet England again have runs on the board as they bid to level the series.
On paper, the opening hour may have proven tricky for the home side when already adrift of the Baggy Greens, yet Australia's lead had disappeared by the end of the first over.
That ultimately set the tone as Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett put on 79 for the opening wicket off 17 overs, with Duckett falling for 42, although England still reached lunch on 130-1 off just 25 overs, with Crawley making 71.
Consecutive boundaries for Jonny Bairstow 💥💥 pic.twitter.com/HX2ZXxBws5
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 29, 2023
The opener fell soon after lunch, but Stokes and Root were able to put on a further 73 for the third wicket before the former played a poor shot off the bowling of Todd Murphy.
When Harry Brook made only seven, there was a sense that momentum could soon turn in Australia's favour, only for Jonny Bairstow to combine with Root to help take the game away from their opponents.
Root departed after a majestic 91 from 106 deliveries, Murphy again taking the wicket, and Bairstow also missed out on what would have been a deserved century after he edged behind for 78 off the bowling of Mitchell Starc.
While the England tail failed to wag and the final notable score being 29 from an injured Moeen Ali, James Anderson (8*) hit two fours during the final over to take his side to 389-9, one which will realistically lead to a declaration overnight.
