Captain Cummins crucial as Aussies pinch lead

It's stumps successful the cricket and stumps successful the blog!

Goodnight.

This year's Ashes bid delivered yet different on-field contention erstwhile Steve Smith survived a run-out accidental by the barest of margins connected time 2 of the last Test.

After the Lord's stumping and Old Trafford washout divided sentiment successful the 2nd and 4th Tests respectively, different aggravated statement is being had aft England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow was deemed to person made a insignificant mistake portion attempting to tally retired Smith successful the 3rd league astatine The Oval.

The Australians person a pb of 12 runs astatine the adjacent of play aft making 295 each retired successful effect to England's 283 each out.

But the tourists astir apt wouldn't person a first-innings vantage if Smith was fixed retired connected 44.

And that's stumps connected time 2 of the 5th Ashes Test!

The Aussies pb the English by 12 runs astatine the adjacent of play, having made 295 each retired successful effect to the hosts' 283 each out.

The tourists were successful a precarious presumption aft losing 5-71 successful the 2nd session, but a 54-run concern betwixt Steve Smith and Pat Cummins, arsenic good arsenic a 49-run basal betwixt Cummins and Todd Murphy, dragged them back.

The biggest talking constituent of the time is TV umpire Nitin Menon's determination to deem Steve Smith not retired erstwhile helium was connected 44, with the Aussie 2nd driblet surviving a run-out accidental by the barest of margins.

MORE TO COME.

Australia's innings and time 2 gully to a adjacent arsenic Ben Stokes taking an exceptional bound catch.

The England skipper catches the shot implicit the bound astatine wide long-on, tosses it wrong the rope, steps wrong the enactment and completes the catch, giving the spectators down him an unthinkable front-row seat.

"I cognize they bash it a batch these days, but that doesn't marque it immoderate little brilliant," Nasser Hussain says successful commentary for Sky Sports.

Pat Cummins departs for 36 arsenic the Aussies are bowled retired for 295, 12 runs up of England's first-innings total.

Josh Hazlewood finishes not retired connected six.

Chris Woakes fires the shot successful from astir the wicket and traps Todd Murphy lbw, bringing to adjacent a accelerated innings by the tailender.

Woakes angles the shot successful to the left-hander and thumps the reddish leather into the apical of his beforehand pad.

Murphy reviews but DRS reveals the shot impacted successful line, didn't cod immoderate bat and would person deed leg.

Murphy departs for 34 from 39 arsenic the Aussies autumn to 9-288.

They pb the English by 5 runs as Josh Hazlewood walks retired to bat with Pat Cummins, who's made 35.

Todd Murphy, who's blasted the English onslaught since arriving successful the middle, glances a James Anderson transportation down to good limb and scampers done for a azygous to springiness the Aussies the lead.

Murphy has made 30 and Pat Cummins 35 with the Aussies sitting sweetly astatine 8-284.

The visitors person made a terrific betterment aft losing 5-70 successful the 2nd session.

Murphy has pumped 30 from 31 since walking retired to bat erstwhile Steve Smith holed out, with the rookie spinner smacking 2 fours and 3 sixes.

Steve Smith falls with the Aussies inactive trailing the English by 44 runs.

The right-hander tries to heave a Chris Woakes transportation done the limb broadside but gets a starring borderline connected it.

The shot goes precocious and Jonny Bairstow runs backmost toward the bound to instrumentality a hard catch, Smith departing for 71.

"That is simply a very, precise bully drawback from England's wicketkeeper," Ian Ward says successful commentary.

"And helium took it comfortably, arsenic well," Mark Taylor adds.

"It was an uncharacteristic, risky shot," Ian Healy says from the Nine studio.

It was a perplexing changeable enactment by Smith. Why a antheral who typically bats with specified outstanding temperament would effort to slog a accelerated bowler retired of the parkland erstwhile his broadside is inactive trailing by 44 runs bemuses me.

The Aussies are 8-239 arsenic Todd Murphy walks retired to conscionable Pat Cummins, who's made 23.

Steve Smith and Pat Cummins bring up a 50-run concern successful the 3rd session, coming unneurotic for a important basal aft linking up successful the mediate with the Aussies successful occupation astatine 7-185.

The tourists are present 7-235 and are trailing by 48 runs.