Stuart Broad takes centre stage to set up epic last day of Ashes first Test

Deafening chants of “Broady’s Gonna Get You” had started when David Warner was fielding in front of the Hollies Stand as Australia chased England’s last two wickets. But if, for once, they proved wide of the mark with the combative opener falling to Ollie Robinson – you just cannot keep Stuart Broad off centre stage.

A double burst in an extended final session from the man in the sweatband dragged England back into this contest just when Australia looked to be taking a grip. And it set up what will surely be a mouthwatering final day with Australia 107-3, needing 174 for victory with seven wickets in hand.

In the tourists’ first innings Broad’s fire had removed Warner and Marnus Labuschagne in consecutive deliveries. Here, as Australia chased the 281 for victory, he went one better. Labuschagne fell again nicking a subtle outswinger into the gloves of Jonny Bairstow to leave Australia 78-2 yet it was Broad’s second hit to remove Steve Smith which felt like the bigger moment.

Fate seems hell-bent echoing the 2005 Ashes and possibly the greatest series ever and England will be praying overnight that the outcome here in Birmingham will be the same again. The 281 they set Australia for victory was just one run short of the target set at the same venue in the second Test 18 years ago.

On that occasion the tourists fell two runs short with Geraint Jones’ tumbling catch to dismiss Michael Kasprowicz off Steve Harmison levelling the series. The boot may well be on the other foot this time round with Usman Khawaja, centurion from the first innings, looking ominously set on 34 with nightwatchman Scott Boland, just 174 from victory.

But whichever way the result goes, it is surely going to be tight. The fact Australia sent Boland to see out the final 16 minutes last night will give England an easier route into the morning’s action.

England, who were two down overnight, had raced out of the traps as Joe Root and Ollie Pope beat out a furious rhythm from flagfall. It is the nature of the Bazball beast that courageous decisions taken in the moment can always be rebranded in defeat as reckless.

And there have been plenty to choose from in this Test. On Monday Root’s naked aggression in his second innings – signalled from the first ball with a missed reverse ramp against Pat Cummins – seemed slightly jarring when judged against what was needed.

To be fair there was a plan in the ramping given it forced Cummins into a covering field which Root then exploited. Yet after moving to 46 in effortless fashion and looking in complete control, his dance down the wicket to Nathan Lyon and subsequent stumping, stuck in the throat.

England had made superb progress in the morning session doubling their lead to 70 inside 20 minutes as the pair cut loose. Root’s exit, after his partner had been castled by Cummins, left England 129-4.

Harry Brook, Ben Stokes and towards the end Robinson weighed in with runs, none made a contribution to take this chase out of Australia’s reach. England’s second innings total of 273 left a significant chase just one run short of the 282 they were set at Edgbaston in the second Test in the fabled 2005 series.

If they pull it off it will be the biggest in the last 75 years of Ashes battles since they scored 404 to win in at Leeds in 1948. Whatever the fates have in store, what a start to the series.