Ashes 4th Test: Bairstow fights with a hundred but Australia still in command after Day 3

England finally came to the party on Day 3 of the 4th Test vs Australia in the Ashes at Sydney. After scoring 416/8 declared in the 1st innings, the Aussies tightened the screws around England on the 3rd day as the visitors were reduced to 34/4 in no time.

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Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and Pat Cummins ripped through the English top order in the morning as it looked like England would just give up without a fight. But the fight came from the badly bruised touring party.

Ben Stokes & Jonny Bairstow then launched a calculated counter-attack which started with solid defence and culminated in free flowing runs. Stokes raked in 66 as he along with Bairstow put on 128 for the 5th wicket. After Stokes's departure, Bairstow managed another crucial 72 run stand with Mark Wood as the fast bowler tonked Pat Cummins to 3 huge sixes.

Bairstow completed a solid century, his first in Test cricket since November 2018 but more importantly the first hundred by an English cricketer on this tour. Despite the fighting hundred, England ended Day 3 at 258/the 7, still trailing by 158 runs as Australia remain in the driver's seat.