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          Both sides brace for second new ball to play a part

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          Malan doesn't rule out England win in Brisbane Test (1:37)

          Dawid Malan feels England are in with a chance of winning the first Test if they can have a strong start on the fourth day (1:37)

          • Andrew McGlashan, Deputy editor, ESPNcricinfoDec 10, 2021, 06:01 PM
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              Deputy Editor Andrew arrived at ESPNcricinfo via Manchester and Cape Town, after finding the assistant editor at a weak moment as he watched England's batting collapse in the Newlands Test. Andrew began his cricket writing as a freelance covering Lancashire during 2004 when they were relegated in the County Championship. In fact, they were top of the table when he began reporting on them but things went dramatically downhill. He likes to let people know that he is a supporter of county cricket, a fact his colleagues will testify to and bemoan in equal quantities.

          The new ball never came into the equation in England's first innings, but both teams know it shapes as a potentially crucial period on the fourth day at the Gabba after Joe Root and Dawid Malan ate significantly into Australia's advantage.

          There will be 10 overs to go in the morning with England 58 behind and the tantalising prospect that if they can weather the next barrage from Australia's three frontline quicks that they could yet set a tricky final-innings target.

          When Root won the toss and opted to bat he noted that the pitch was starting slightly soft and he thought it may cause indentations that could become tricky. Malan indicated that was happening - Root himself was hit by a vicious delivery from Pat Cummins that climbed from a length - although the paltry 147 and a deficit of 278 gave them a mountain to climb to exploit it.

          "It has hardened up a little and a few more divots," Malan said. "There's that big period now and then that second new ball is going to be crucial for them and hopefully we can counter that.

          "It has got a little more inconsistent… there's really big divots in the wicket. It's still coming through really nicely but it's slightly two-paced and the odd one hits the back of a divot and bounces a bit more. It's a little bit tougher to judge the bounce.

          "That first hour will be really important tomorrow then we can start thinking about how well we can play. But we need one more good hundred-run partnership to put a good score on the board, then who knows what can happen."

          There were eyebrows raised that Josh Hazlewood was only used for eight overs on the third day - particularly given his record against Root who he has dismissed eight times - but the indication from the Australia camp was that it was with an eye on that second new ball even though he was not used beyond the 29th over.

          "Hoff's fine. We're just making sure we're prepared really well," Marnus Labuschagne said. "We know that there's some times at the Gabba where there's not as many wickets that fall and we've just got to hold in that period and make sure we rotate our bowlers well so we've got someone fresh."

          With home-ground knowledge of the Gabba, Labuschagne remained confident that Australia would be able to break the back of England.

          "I certainly think there's enough in the pitch," he said. "If they keep batting well and putting runs on then we'll need to go to plan B,C and D but the key for us is building pressure. I've played a lot here at the Gabba, we know the format, we know the template to take wickets."