England inconsistency denting their Ashes chances despite spirited fightback in Adelaide

If only England could string together a performance for the entirety of a Test, they would have a strong chance of retaining the Ashes. For most of the first three days at Brisbane, they were level with Australia, perhaps even ahead of them at certain stages.

And from mid-afternoon on day three until the end of Australia’s second innings here, England were all over their hosts, who were bowled out for 138 as Jimmy Anderson claimed his first Test five-wicket haul in this country.

The problem is that when England are bad, they are really, really bad. Think the batting effort on day four at the Gabba. Or the bowling performance at the start of Australia’s first innings, and at its conclusion. Or the careless batting from the top seven on days two and three. Notoriously grumpy, Anderson was clearly unimpressed with the batsmen when he spoke after play on day three, but he had an eloquent retort to those who say he cannot bowl in Australia. He finished with five for 43 from 22 overs, his 25th five-wicket haul, putting him behind only Sir Ian Botham, who has 28, on England’s all-time list.

Chris Woakes supported him superbly with four for 36, his best Test bowling performance overseas. It left England with a victory target of 354, which would be the highest successful chase on this ground. Can they do so? It remains unlikely, England finished the day on 176/4ur, still requiring 178 to win, with Joe Root on 67 and Woakes, the nightwatchman, on 5.

Root endured a ferocious barrage of sledging from Aussie captain Steve Smith and struggling batsman Peter Handscomb, with umpire Aleem Dar stepping in. Wicketkeeper Tim Paine had another crack and Root exchanged words with Nathan Lyon as the sides walked off the field.

Confidence among England supporters was fragile when Alastair Cook and Mark Stoneman walked to the wicket. But Stoneman took Mitchell Starc for consecutive fours and when they passed 50, England still had all 10 wickets intact. They had enjoyed a bit of luck, too. Josh Hazlewood had an lbw shout against Cook turned down; had Australia reviewed, the former captain would have been out for one. Stoneman top-edged a sweep at Nathan Lyon on 34 and Hazlewood just failed to hold the chance at long leg.

Yet Lyon was bowling with craft and menace not seen from an Australian spinner since Shane Warne. Cook and Stoneman were nervous and scoreless, and the inevitable happened when a leg-before appeal against Cook was upheld on review. Stoneman had gone entirely into his shell and Starc had his revenge when he fenced to gully.

Before the dinner break, Australia tempted Root with full deliveries outside his off stump and after it, the plan worked — although it was James Vince who fell into the trap. Starc slanted the ball across him, England’s No3 aimed a flashy drive and the ball flew to Peter Handscomb at first slip. Australia know Root is England’s key wicket and at the start of his innings, the captain appeared tense.

He exchanged words with the umpires over a trivial matter — when dead ball was called after England ran a single — and was fidgety in his crease.

He lived dangerously, too. On 32, he was given out lbw not offering a shot against Lyon, but reviewed immediately, and was saved by DRS. On another occasion, Root nearly hit the ball a second time after a defensive shot bounced back towards his stumps.

At the other end, Malan rode his luck. He was dropped at slip by Steve Smith off Lyon on eight and nearly edged Starc back on to his stumps. Clearly rattled, Smith called for an lbw review against Malan that was unsuccessful.

Having already got one wrong against Root, it left Australia forced to respect the umpire’s decision for the rest of the innings. Smith could do nothing when Lyon had two shouts against Malan and Root, to the delight of the Barmy Army. Pat Cummins, impressive throughout the series, broke the ice by beating Malan for pace, ending his partnership of 78 with Root.

Earlier, the tourists bowled with sustained excellence in the opening session, to the extent that no Australia batsman made it past 20. Anderson was all over Handscomb from the off and Stuart Broad struck nightwatchman Lyon on the helmet with a short delivery, dislodging the stem guard that protects a batsman’s neck.

Lyon was unnerved and it was no surprise when he skied Anderson to Broad at mid-off soon afterwards. Even more predictable was the departure of Handscomb, who steered Anderson to gully where Malan took a fine low catch.

England’s discipline was outstanding, their fielding sharp. Tim Paine tried to break the shackles but was brilliantly caught in the deep by Craig Overton, giving Woakes his third wicket. Woakes’s fourth was not long coming, a full delivery that bowled first-innings centurion Shaun Marsh.

Starc had a life when Anderson spilled a caught-and-bowled chance that tore his whites as he tumbled, though he soon returned to collect his fifth as Starc mowed to Moeen Ali. Overton returned from the River End to finish the job with a lifting delivery that Hazlewood guided to gully.