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Patna : Replying to Australia’s first innings total of 327 runs in 119 over, England were 491/9 in 144 over at stumps on the third day of fourth Ashes test at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, on December 28, 2017, with former Captain and opener Alastair Cook unbeaten on 244 in 409 balls hitting 27 fours and fast bowler James Anderson yet to score having played 15 balls. It was Cook’s second double century in an Ashes test and fifth overall. England lead by 164 runs.
Cook and fast bolwer Stuard Broad, who scored 56 in 63 deliveries hitting 8 fours and a six, were involved in a hundred run stand for the 9th wicket. Broad’s wicket fell with England score read 473. Both Cook and Broad returned to form in the Melbourne test. Cook had made only 83 in the first three Ashes test of the series. Broad had taken four wickets in Australia’s first innings.
Resuming at their overnight score of 192/2, England lost Captain Joe Root for 61 in 133 balls hitting 7 fours with the team score reading 218. The wicket of Dawid Malan ( 14) fell at 246 and that of wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow (22) at 279. The wicket of Moeen Ali ( 20) fell at 307 and that of fast bowler Chris Woakes ( 26) at 366. Bowler Tom Curran was out for 4 with England score reading 373.
For Australia, Pat Cummins took 3/ 117 in 29 over and Josh Hazlewood 3/95 in 30 over while spinner Nathan Lyon took 3/ 109 in 42 over. Faste bowler Jackson Bird went wicketless leaking 108 run in 30 over.