Pat Cummins' ball to dismiss Joe Root 'a blueprint' for Australia – Steve Smith

Right after dismissing opener Rory Burns off the third ball of England's second innings, Cummins bowled a peach of a delivery that hit the top of off-stump, leaving Root with a golden duck, and the hosts two down before the close of play on Saturday, 7 September.

England finished day four on 18/2, still requiring 365 runs to win. "I think that ball to Root is a blueprint of what we need to do tomorrow," Smith said after stumps. "If they do that again and hit the top of the stumps, that same length as the Root ball, hopefully, we can see a lot of bowled, LBWs and caught behind the wickets."

Smith's lowest score of the series – a 92-ball 82 – helped his side recover from an initial stutter, having walked in to bat with Australia 16/2. They eventually declared on 186/6, setting England a target of 383.

"I think when it is tough, you want your experienced players to step up," said Smith. "I've played quite a lot of cricket now, so I like to get into those situations and be the one to take the team through."

Smith praised the efforts of the England pacers who, at one point, reduced Australia to 44/4, admitting that facing the new ball on Old Trafford's surface was challenging for both sides.

"It's been tough with the new ball, for both sides," he said. "The ball's probably done the most when it's new, and when it's a bit softer, it doesn't do quite as much, so it gets a bit easier.

"They (England) have bowled pretty well with the new ball, and I think they're particularly good bowlers to left-handed batters, both [Stuart] Broad and [Jofra] Archer."