Overview
- At stumps on day four, England were 302-8 in their second innings with a lead of 119, leaving Jacob Bethell unbeaten on 142 in a lone rearguard.
- Australia earlier extended their first-innings total to 567 as Steve Smith moved from 129 overnight to 138 before falling, with Beau Webster finishing 71 not out.
- Travis Head’s 163 and Smith’s century built Australia’s platform, with Smith surpassing Jack Hobbs to sit second on the all-time Ashes run list behind Don Bradman.
- England lost momentum late in the day, collapsing by five wickets for 78 after Bethell’s stands with Ben Duckett and Harry Brook had erased the deficit.
- Ben Stokes left the field with a groin injury during Australia’s innings, and Australia, already 3-1 up, are well placed to close out a 4-1 series victory on the final day.