The Ashes 2013: 4th Test, Day 3 - Heroes of the Day

Ryan Harris (28 runs off 33 balls – 5 fours; 3/74 in 20 overs)

England’s Ian Bell (2nd R) recovers after being hit by a short ball Australia’s Ryan Harris (L) during play on the third day of the fourth Ashes cricket Test match between England and Australia at the Riverside stadium in Chester-le-Street, north-east England, on August 11, 2013. (Photo credit should read LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP/Getty Images)

The burly Australian pacer did the star turn for his side today with both bat and ball. He hit a quick-fire 28 in the morning, scoring six boundaries along the way before becoming Stuart Broad‘s fifth victim.

With the ball, Harris picked up three key England batsmen – first bowling Joe Root with a length delivery around off which straightened a bit, then removing skipper Alastair Cook with a full, wide ball outside off stump, and finally dismissing Jonathan Trott with a short ball on middle and leg.

If the Queensland bowler carries on in this vein of form, England might struggle to stretch that lead past 250.

It will be an interesting Day 4 at Chester-le-Street, with both sides striving hard to get the upper hand. England will need the tail to wag for as long as possible, giving steady support to Ian Bell as he continues his impressive run in this edition of the Ashes. Australia will look to polish off the remaining five wickets as soon as possible in order to prevent chasing a mammoth score on the last day. Game on!