Jonathan Trott targets taming the tourists in fourth Ashes Test

Australia's Nathan Lyon shows how it is done, taking four wickets.

Australia's Nathan Lyon, third from the left, wins an appeal to dismiss England's Jonny Bairstow, not in picture, lbw during the fourth Ashes Test.
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CHESTER-LE-STREET, ENgland // Jonathan Trott is hopeful England can emulate Australia's strong bowling effort to keep the fourth Ashes Test in the balance at Chester-le-Street.

England's batsmen fell well short of expectations against a disciplined Australian attack.

The hosts spooked themselves in the shadow of the supposedly haunted Lumley Castle, going to extremes of tempos to little avail as they all got to bat but also nearly all out, too, on the way to 238 for nine.

Only Alastair Cook (51) and Jonathan Trott, in a second-wicket stand of 73, even hinted at the intended outcome after England chose to bat first on a pitch many had predicted would help the seamers.

Australia spinner Nathan Lyon took four for 42 as England limped to their total, albeit on a ground where low first-innings scores have been typical this summer.

Trott, whose stand with Cook still gives England a fighting chance, told Sky Sports Ashes: "It was difficult, quite hard to score, but from 100 for one we'd be upset at the position we find ourselves in at the close of play.

"But we've got 240 on the board and hopefully we can scrape a few more tomorrow. No one's really sure what a good score is.

"Australia bowled well, credit where it's due, and hopefully we can create the same pressure."

Lyon ran through England's middle order, removing Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell and Jonny Bairstow, and said: "It was good fun out there, I'm pretty happy with the way I bowled personally.

"I'm happy with the way it came out and happy to build some pressure from one end."

Australia trail 2-0 in the series, meaning England have retained the urn with two Tests to spare after rain denied Australia victory from a dominant performance at Old Trafford last week, but the tourists drew encouragement from that game.

Lyon said: "We spoke about how well we went in Manchester, unfortunately the weather went against us but it was important to continue today with the same momentum."

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