How's stat?!published at 17:34 BST 29 July 2023
Andy Zaltzman
Cricket statistician on Test Match Special
Nathan Lyon and Ravichandran Ashwin have bowled 237.3 overs at Joe Root and never hit his stumps. So a feather in the cap for young Todd Murphy.
Broad announces he will retire after conclusion of final Ashes Test
England end day with a lead of 377
Hosts slip from 360-5 to 379-9 - losing four wickets for 19
Root (91) falls short of brilliant century
Bairstow (78) & Root add 110 in less than 25 overs
Root anchors middle order after loss of Stokes (42) and Brook (7)
Crawley makes 73 at top of order alongside Duckett (42)
Australia, who lead series 2-1, have retained Ashes
Ffion Wynne and Tom Mallows
Andy Zaltzman
Cricket statistician on Test Match Special
Nathan Lyon and Ravichandran Ashwin have bowled 237.3 overs at Joe Root and never hit his stumps. So a feather in the cap for young Todd Murphy.
#bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)
I think the YJB stumping has taken a bigger toll mentally on Australia than they would like to admit. They've been thoroughly outplayed ever since.
Tim, Cambridge
Lead by 341
Shot! Bairstow gets down on one knee and sweeps Murphy for four more from outside off stump.
He'd gone a little quiet since Root got out, but that was a treat.
Matthew Henry
BBC Sport at The Oval
Image source, ReutersSteve Smith ventures out to the boundary and gets booed by an English crowd again. This could be the last time he has to deal with this.
Lead by 355
Chris Woakes is padded up on the balcony, suggesting there aren't plans for a declaration any time soon.
But who knows with this team?
Beautiful.
Moeen Ali with a picture-perfect straight drive past Mitchell Starc, perfectly nutmegging Jonny Bairstow at the non-striker's end.
He stands and admires his work, and rightly so.
Glenn McGrath
Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special
Image source, PA MediaAustralia needed something, they looked down and out.
If they can pick up another one and get on a bit of a roll, this match is not out of reach.
It seems Moeen Ali isn't going to hang about.
He slog sweeps Todd Murphy to the boundary with authority. If he can add a quick 20 or 30 here, it could be a gem of an innings in the long term.
Matthew Henry
BBC Sport at The Oval
Thank you for the compliments, Richard...
Thank you, Richard. Just thank you.
I have been trying to tell him this. Maybe he'll listen to you.
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How old is Matthew Henry? He looks about 14 judging by his picture. Is he on a school work placement?
Richard, Leeds.
Image source, ReutersPat Cummins, with very little going his way, has toiled away admirably today. He must be exhausted.
But Moeen and Bairstow calmly see off another of his overs, and take a drink.
The lead is now 324.
Andy Zaltzman
Cricket statistician on Test Match Special
Twelve players have got on the honours board by hitting a century or a five-fer this series, but no-one has done so more than once.
Matthew Henry
BBC Sport at The Oval
Moeen Ali has just been given a big cheer for being able to run that single.
An important breakthrough for Australia, and now this is going to be interesting.
How is the injured Moeen Ali going to play?
He manages to take a single from his first ball but Australia's field is set so deep that he barely has to jog.
Isa Guha
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special
Image source, PA MediaIt was a fairly innocuous delivery. Joe Root is livid with himself. But it has been a fine knock.
Root b Murphy 91 (Eng 332-5)
Gone! From nowhere.
Joe Root falls nine short of another wonderful century but it has been a sublime innings, in his usual elegant style.
A hint of turn from Murphy just skids through his defences. He looks furious with himself but that was a delight to watch.
Glenn McGrath
Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special
It has been a tough day for the Australian bowlers. They have toiled hard, but I don't think they have been as consistent as they would have liked.
Matthew Henry
BBC Sport at The Oval
You hate that Manchester rain even more now, don't you?
Image source, Getty ImagesHow good are these two together? They bring up their 100 partnership from 141 balls and it's just looked ridiculously easy.
And on that note, Joe Root gets into a right tangle playing a short ball from Cummins, and gets very lucky as the ball flies off the glove and down to third man for four.
Then follows it with a much more convincing cover drive for another, moving into the 90s.
Class.