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Ponting praises Root, says new ball will be key

Former skipper impressed by the determination showed by England’s batsmen on day three, but adds Australia still have enough runs to win

The third Test looks set for an epic finish at Headingley and despite the dogged rear-guard effort from England skipper Joe Root, former Australia captain Ricky Ponting is confident the visitors have enough runs and the bowling attack to claim victory and retain the Ashes.

Both teams walked off the field at 7pm local time to a standing ovation from the packed crowd with England 3-156, still requiring 203 more runs to win to level the series 1-1.

An England loss, however, would see Australia go 2-0 up with two Tests to play and retain the urn they won on home soil in 2017-18.

While the match hangs in the balance, Ponting says the second new ball, which is just eight overs away, will have a major say in the outcome after the Australian attack bowled superbly on a docile pitch on Saturday.

"I know England have played really well this afternoon, they dug deep," Ponting told cricket.com.au.

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"Denly and Root's partnership was outstanding, but I think Australia has still got plenty of runs.

"We've seen (Josh) Hazlewood (2-35) and (Pat) Cummins (1-33) bowl outstandingly well right through the game and I think as the game goes on Nathan Lyon (0-42) is going to come in to it more and more.

"The wicket looks like it's flattened out considerably late this afternoon but there's a new ball around the corner tomorrow morning.

"It's been a new-ball wicket all game. The other thing we've seen is in the game it has been a really hard wicket for anyone to come in and start on."

Australia looked on track for a comprehensive win after setting England 359 – a score they have never successfully chased in a Test match – to win and reducing the hosts to 2-15 in the seventh over.

But given the time lost due to rain on day one and the breakneck speed at which wickets have fallen, the fourth innings of the Test started after just 155.2 overs and 15 minutes before lunch on the third day.

It's why the mountainous target did not appear so steep when England set off on their ascent.

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"Even when Australia got to (a lead of) 359, it was not like it was a 359 on a fifth-day pitch," Ponting said.

"It was a 359 on a wicket that's probably at its absolute best to bat on. The Aussies were wary of that this morning.

"I spoke to a few of them early on this morning, they understood they had to get as many runs as they could.

"But with not much in the track they've still got three outstanding seamers and the best spinner in the world, so they should be OK."

England's 3-156 from 72 overs in their second innings is a 180-degree turnaround from the calamitous display of the first innings, where they were rolled for their fourth-lowest total on home soil in less than 28 overs.

Root and Denly's stand has been the backbone of the innings to date, with the pair showing the patience, discipline and resilience that was absent on day two.

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And given the Ashes were on the line, Ponting felt an improved performance was on the cards.

"I said to Justin (Langer, Australia coach) this morning I expected this would happen," he said.

"If it didn't happen today for England it's series over, it's not going to happen.

"To be fair, Denly has looked quite good through the series.

"Both Denly and Root have had a fair bit of luck today; a lot of balls have gone past the outside edge, a few lbw shouts have been very close, but anyone who's got runs on this wicket has had to have their fair share of luck.

"They've dug deep, they've played well and kept themselves in the game."

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Ponting praised the efforts of Root, who prior to this innings was averaging just 19.8 and coming off two ducks.

"Joe Root's played beautifully and that's what you expect from your captain in situations like this,” he said.

“In an Ashes series when your backs are to the wall, you need your captain to stand up and he's done it today."

2019 Qantas Ashes Tour of England

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.

England squad: Joe Root (c), Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes (vc), Chris Woakes.

First Test: Australia beat England by 251 runs at Edgbaston

Second Test: Match drawn at Lord's

Third Test: August 22-26, Headingley

Tour match: Australians v Derbyshire, August 29-31

Fourth Test: September 4-8, Old Trafford

Fifth Test: September 12-16, The Oval