Aussies opt against follow on in Ashes before struggling to 53-4 after dismissing England for 227

Jimmy Anderson and Chris Woakes strike to swing momentum slightly back towards the tourists after day three

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Aussie skipper Steve Smith leaves the field after losing his appeal against an lbw decision. Photo: AP

Published: 8:07pm, 4 Dec 2017Updated: 8:07pm, 4 Dec 2017

Australia stumbled to 53-4 at the close of play on the third day of the day-night Ashes test in Adelaide after deciding not to enforce England to follow on, with many questioning skipper Steve Smith’s decision not to send the tourists back in.

England’s Jimmy Anderson and Chris Woakes took two wickets each as Australia lost Cameron Bancroft (4), Usman Khawaja (20), David Warner (14) and captain Smith (6) before stumps. Nightwatchman Nathan Lyon and Peter Handscomb both finished on three not out. Earlier on Monday, Lyon took a stunning return catch and finished with four wickets as Australia dismissed England for 227.

England bowler Chris Woakes celebrates the wicket of Australia captain Steve Smith as the tourists fight back in Adelaide. Photo: AFP

Mitchell Starc also chimed in with two caught-and-bowled dismissals in his haul of 3-49 to help Australia take a 215-run first-innings lead on day three at the Adelaide Oval.

England resumed at 29-1 in reply to Australia’s 442-8 declared and lost four wickets for 99 runs in the first session – skipper Joe Root (9) and Alastair Cook (37) among them.

Lyon struck early in the second session, breaking up the partnership between the last of the recognised batsmen when he dived at full length to his left to catch Moeen Ali’s mistimed drive as England slid to 132-6.

Australia paceman Mitchell Starc takes a sharp catch off his own bowling. Photo: AFP

Starc took a reflex catch, on the second grab, to dismiss Jonny Bairstow (21) off his own bowling with the addition of 10 to the England total. The Australian paceman then ended a 66-run eighth-wicket stand by the same mode when Woakes (36) popped up an easy chance just before the dinner break.