Ashes 2017: 2nd Test, day 4, 5 things we learnt from the day

Joe Root and Dawid Malan strung together a match-turning stand late in the day after James Anderson's outstanding skills bowled the Aussies out for 138. Chasing 354 for victory, England appeared to be dismantling quickly, especially when the openers and James Vince departed early on.

But in Joe Root and Dawid Malan, they found two able, grit-filled batsmen and the duo not only resurrected the innings in tough batting conditions but also gave the Poms a realistic chance at chasing down the target.

Root hit a half-century in the process and appeared a much more impressive batsman than he has been all tour. Malan's dismissal late in the day set England back considerably, though.

#5 James Anderson roars back to form

Anderson snapped up a five wicket haul at Adelaide

Listless and drab, Anderson's back of the length and teasing pace hadn't fetched him much success at the Gabba or in the first innings of the day-night affair here at Adelaide. However, aided by a glaring choice from Steven Smith to not enforce the follow-on, Anderson had a crack at the Australian bowlers under lights with a pink ball.

The wily craftsman sent down a sizzling spell, wrecking the Aussie top order under lights. But if the hosts thought that when the sun comes out, Anderson would go back to being ineffective, they were wrong.

He ripped through the lower order to finish with yet another fifer and give England a formidable chance in the game.

#4 Australia cleaned up for 138

Marsh couldn't repeat the heroics of the previous innings

Pumped up to scythe through England, Australia found themselves in testing waters after being reduced to four down in no time on day 3. Althoug Shaun Marsh and Tim Paine threatened to put on a first innings-like partnership, it did not quite happen with Anderson in fine rhythm.

The hosts found little support form the lower order as their bankable batsmen departed in a hurry. Neither Starc nor Cummins could not showcase their batting prowess as England gained an ever-so-small grip on the game.

#3 Alastair Cook going down rapidly

Cook has been the most susceptible of England batsmen on this tour

When Nathan Lyon said that this Ashes would see quite a few retirements from the opposition camp, he must have meant to take a dig at Alastair Cook. The former England captain has been a sitting duck to the sheer pace in the Australian attack and him hanging onto the back-foot hasn't helped matters.

In the second innings at Adelaide, Cook took his time to get settled, appeared more in his zone than at any time in this series and then nearly threw it all away when he was trapped in front, only for Australia to not opt for a review.

His lucky break didn't last long, though, as Nathan Lyon came around the wicket to dismiss him leg before wicket for 16.

#2 Vince gets back into his routine

Vince is back to getting starts and throwing it away

James Vince was a strange selection for this Ashes series. He was guilty of wasting too many starts, appearing on top of his game before giving it all away with a wild swipe during his Test career before this call-up.

However, most of that talk was silenced on Day 1 of the series when Vince cracked a fine half-century, cut short only by a piece of magical fielding by Nathan Lyon.

But since then, the patchy Vince of old has made a reappearance. There have still been the usual starts, but the temperament and composure have gone missing again with his problem of driving majestically one ball and then driving loosely the next popping up again.

#1 The Joe Root - Dawid Malan stand

Root finally joined the party and England were back in the match

It was Ashes cricket at its very best. Three menacing seamers, a tall confident off-spinner and two defiant, resolute batsman under lights with a pink ball at Adelaide chasing 354 for victory.

Dawid Malan was circumspect at the start but with Root gaining confidence, grew into a resilient figure late in the day.

A Nathan Lyon delivery struck him on the pads plumb in front, but the umpire did not budge and Australia had no reviews left. Malan had a reprieve then, but every team in strife need a stroke of luck - and England had theirs. With Root growing in confidence, the signs were ominous for the visitors in the final session. Malan couldn't quite use it, though, with Cummins cleaning him up late in the day.