England 'have got the character' to pull off a draw – Graham Thorpe
"We have got the character," Thorpe said after the play on Sunday, 4 August. "They have to go out and use their skill, but also be smart and show character. It will not be easy but this is Test cricket. Four days have shifted backwards and forwards and it is on us to soak it up for one more day."
Close of play at Edgbaston and a huge task ahead of England tomorrow to save the first Ashes Test match.
— ICC (@ICC) August 4, 2019
They finish on 13/0 chasing 398 to win!#Ashes pic.twitter.com/F83KA099Gs
On the fourth day, masterful hundreds from Steve Smith and Mathew Wade, fifty from Travis Head, and useful contributions from the lower order provided Australia a strong lead of 387 before they declared on 487/7 – setting England a massive target with a little over a day of play remaining.
After Australia declared the innings, England openers Jason Roy and Rory Burns survived the seven overs even as the wearing pitch produced a lot of turn and some amount of variable bounce.
Thorpe urged the England batsmen to show character and skill especially against Australia's ace spinner Nathan Lyon, whom he called a 'threat' on a day five pitch.
