The opening Test of the Ashes is set up for one of the great final days after the Australians, with the help of a nightwatchman in pulsating scenes, battled through to stumps on day four in pursuit of 281 runs to win.
When Usman Khawaja and Scott Boland, who Australia used as a nightwatchman at Edgbaston, stride to the middle on day five, 174 runs will be standing between the visitors and victory.
The Australians are 3-107 after losing David Warner (36), Marnus Labuschagne (13) and Steve Smith (six) in the final session of the fourth day.
AS IT HAPPENED: First Ashes Test, day four
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Their run chase began in splendid fashion as Khawaja and Warner combined for 61 runs for the first wicket, withstanding the English attack for 17 overs as they ate away at the total.
But Ollie Robinson drew Warner’s outside edge and Stuart Broad rose to a grand occasion yet again, having Labuschagne and Smith caught behind.
The veteran quick’s enormous heart was on show as he repeatedly ran back to the top of his mark in a bid to have as many overs as possible squeezed in before stumps.
Khawaja, who made a glorious 141 in Australia’s first dig, will resume on 34, while Boland will continue on 13.
Ricky Ponting leaned toward England as he agonised over forecasting a winner.
“I think right now this is England’s game,” said the former Australian skipper on Nine’s coverage.
“This has swung. At the start of Australia’s batting innings I said I think this is Australia’s game to lose. Right now I think it’s England’s game to lose.
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“Travis Head to come, who’s been in scintillating form. Cameron Green after that. Alex Carey’s been in good touch.
“But as we know, runs in the fourth innings of a Test match are not easy to come by. And even by the look of this wicket, the older this ball gets, if you bowl well it’s actually one of those wickets that’s actually quite hard to score on and … going to make scoring very, very difficult for Australia.”
First Ashes Test, day four highlights
The match is panning out in eerily similar fashion to the Edgbaston Ashes Test of 2005.
Ponting’s Australian side was set 282 runs to win and fell tantalisingly short, the English bowling out the tourists for 279 when No.11 Michael Kasprowicz was caught by gloveman Geraint Jones off the bowling of paceman Steve Harmison at the death.
“To pick a winner, to tell you the truth, I have absolutely no idea,” said Nine’s Steve O’Keefe of the ongoing Edgbaston Test.
“But I know today I’ve witnessed one of the great days of cricket and I know tomorrow we’re in store for one of the great Ashes finishes of all time.
“Who are we relying on? Well, is it going to be Usman Khawaja, who’s been cool, calm and collected at the top of the innings? I think it’s going to be Head, Green and Carey and that tail all chipping in in the final session to see Australia over the line.”
Before Australia’s run chase began, the English were bowled out for 273.
The hosts’ “Bazball” style was in full flow as former captain Joe Root attempted to ramp Pat Cummins for six on the first ball of the day, before incumbent skipper Ben Stokes pulled out brash and flamboyant shots after lunch.
Cummins and Nathan Lyon both captured four wickets in England’s second dig.
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