Root, Denly defy Australia on Day 3

Australia, which leads the five-match series 1-0 and needs one more win to retain the Ashes urn, was all out for 246 in its second innings before lunch on Saturday, setting England a daunting target of 359 runs to win. Openers Jason Roy and Rory Burns survived until lunch, but did not last long in the afternoon session, with Burns falling first to Hazlewood for seven, before Roy was clean bowled by Pat Cummins for eight. Root, on the back of consecutive ducks in his last two innings, settled after a nervy opening to pass 1,500 Test runs against Australia and remains unbeaten on 41, well supported by Denly (30 not out).

BRIEF SCORES: At Tea: Australia (1st innings) 179 & 246 (M Labuschagne 80, M Wade 33, U Khawaja 23,  J Pattinson 20, B Stokes 3/56, J Archer 2/40) vs England (1st innings) 67 & (2nd innings) 90/2 in 38 overs  (J Root 41*, J Denly 30*)