England face the near-impossible task of scoring another 386 runs on the final day of the second Ashes Test to win the game.
What’s more possible but also extremely unlikely is England surviving another three sessions to salvage a draw in Adelaide, after limping to stumps on the fourth day at 4-82.
Australia’s stand-in captain, Steve Smith, declared at 9-230 just before tea, setting England a record fourth-innings chase of 468 to win.
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The mammoth pursuit began in disastrous fashion, with Haseeb Hameed making a six-ball duck, Rory Burns managing only 34, Dawid Malan being removed for 20 and Joe Root mustering just 24.
Root lost his wicket on the final ball of the day, edging a Mitchell Starc delivery through to wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
All-rounder Ben Stokes (three) and No.6 Ollie Pope (zero) will be in the middle for the beginning of the final day.
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Root was dealt not one but two doses of horrible misfortune on the fourth day, copping a cricket ball to the abdomen before the start of play and being hit in the testicles late in the final session.
MORE TO COME.
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