Need to keep hitting that top-of-the-stump length, claims Steven Smith

Having set a stiff target of 383 for England to have any chances of the hosts regaining the Ashes, the Australian bowlers got off to a dream start in the final session on day four. Pat Cummins got Rory Burns trapped before the wicket on just the third ball of the inning, before an exquisite delivery next up had Joe Root scrambling as the bails on the top of off stump went flying. The Kangaroos are now closer than ever from retaining the Ashes and Steven Smith believes the bowlers need to start the final day in the same breath of form to complete the victory.

"I think it will be difficult, particularly while the ball is hard. I found when I first went out to the middle, when you bowl a good length, there was enough up and down and sideways movement. My first 20 or 30 balls, I felt pretty vulnerable when they were bowling that good length. Patty hit it beautifully tonight, I think that ball to Root is a blueprint of what we need to do tomorrow, first thing in the morning, and the quicks to keep hitting that top-of-the-stump length and let the pitch do its thing,” the talismanic batsman was quoted saying by ESPNCricinfo.

While the win, if it turns out to be one, will see the Kangaroos win their first Ashes on English soil in 18 years, everything has not been positive for them over the past month. The biggest concern they’ll take away is the worrying form of David Warner, who has just amassed 79 runs from eight innings and has fallen prey to Stuart Board an astonishing six times.

"We've talked, a few different things here and there. Just trying to form a plan to get through Broad. He's admitted himself that Broad's had the wood on him throughout this series and he's been talking to myself and Justin and Hicky, I think, about ways he can play. He's tried a couple different ways and they haven't quite worked. but Davey's a quality player and he hasn't had a great deal of luck this series either, hopefully he can turn it around and get a big one for us at The Oval," Smith said addressing the issue.

As for him, Smith couldn’t have done any better than what he has achieved in the series so far. His half-century in the second innings made him the year’s highest run-getter despite only having played three matches and averages 134-plus with three centuries, including a double-hundred and a couple of half-centuries.

"I think when it is tough you want your experienced players to step up. I've played quite a lot of cricket now. I like to get into those situations and try and be the one to take the team through. I'm not in the game for personal accolades, I'm here to do my job and score as many runs for the team as I can and fortunately this series I've been able to score quite a few and help the team as much as I can. Hopefully I can do that again next game," the 30-year-old signed off.