England’s Joe Root has a knack of breaking partnerships and once again the off-spinner proved his mettle. Australia’s number three Marnus Labuschagne was going all guns blazing and was batting unperturbed at 111 when Root got one to bounce steeply to take the outside edge to Jonny Bairstow.
The on-field umpire Nitin Menon gave it not out but England were able to reverse the decision on review. It was a big wicket as Labuschagne was well-settled at the crease but he was dismissed after scoring a fine century.
Root has figures of 1-32 in the six overs he has bowled thus far. England’s batting coach Marcus Trescothick lauded Joe Root’s ‘Golden Arm’ as he got the big wicket before stumps on Day 4.
“Joe’s a little bit of a golden arm, isn’t he? He just finds a way,” Trescothick said in the press conference after Day 4 of the ongoing Test. “He just has that ability to come in with a little spell now and again and just pick up one or two wickets. He has a good knack of doing that.”
The former England opener highlighted the importance of Marnus Labuschagne’s wicket before the end of day’s play.
“We know how good a player he is. It’s a big, big player out of the way on a decent pitch. “There’s one less person that we have to knock over, which is important.”
Root has scalped 58 wickets in his glorious Test career and he has chipped whenever he has been called in to bowl.
Meanwhile, Australia ended the fourth day’s play at 214-5, trailing by 61 runs. Cameron Green and Mitchell Marsh are batting unbeaten at the crease for the visitors.
Only 30 overs were possible on the penultimate day because of rain and England will be hoping that the weather doesn’t play killjoy. The hosts will aim for quick wickets on the final day of the fourth Test match to keep the Ashes alive.