England would need to re-write history if they are to deny Australia's hunt for 10 wickets on day five that would secure a Test win
Prowling Aussies have weight of history on their side
Joe Root's side will rewrite the history books if they are to chase down a mammoth fourth innings target and record a remarkable win in the first Ashes Test.
England survived a nervous seven-over burst late on day four to be 0-13 at stumps chasing 398 to win after Australia hammered the hosts' undermanned attack to all parts of Edgbaston.
Steve Smith posted his second century of the match while Matthew Wade scored his maiden Ashes century as Australia racked up 7-487 declared in 112 overs.
No England side has ever reeled in a target as immense as the one front of them in an Ashes contest, with their highest successful run chase the 7-332 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1928 in Don Bradman's second Test match.
England's 4-315 in Leeds in 2001, when Mark Butcher scored a brilliant 173no following a sporting declaration from stand-in captain Adam Gilchrist, is their highest run chase on home soil.
Image Id: 44293B213EDB49E987DE212CF41A969C Image Caption: Butcher inspired an England win in 2001 // GettyBut only once have England scored 398 or more in the fourth innings of an Ashes Test, and that was in 1924 when Arthur Gilligan's side put up 411 in Sydney but still lost by 193 runs.
All these records are viewed through an Ashes lens. Take that away and what you get is not much better, with England's highest fourth innings score becoming the 5-654 they amassed over 218.2 eight-ball overs in Durban in the timeless Test of 1939, and the 417 against Australia in the 1977 Centenary Test at the MCG where the Ashes were not contested.
If history is one obstacle England must overcome, another is Australia's chief weapon on day five – off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who will get to bowl on a pitch that is spinning and at large footmarks in front of right-handers and left-handers in equal measure.
Smith knows the Edgbaston pitch better than anyone having batted on it for nearly 12 hours and hopes to see it misbehave on day five as Australia hunt 10 wickets for victory.
"There is quite a lot of rough that hopefully Gazza can exploit," Smith said. "(For the) quicks, the ball has been getting soft pretty quickly, so it’s going to be about attacking the stumps as much as we can.
"Day five wickets normally have some tricks in them. Hopefully we can see the ball going up and down a bit and I think attacking the stumps is our quickest way home."
If England are looking for inspiration they need only to look back a decade ago in Cardiff where the 10th wicket partnership of James Anderson and Monty Panesar held out for 37 minutes to hold on for an epic draw.
Anderson is nursing an injured calf muscle but will bat if required, but England assistant coach Graham Thorpe hopes he doesn't see the No.11 bat on day five.
"We hope it does not get down to that (Anderson batting) but it has already been a summer of twists and turns for us as a nation so who knows," Thorpe said.
"It is not for us to think too far ahead. Whatever happens during the course of the day we hope the team can show character and skill.
"We are going to need all of that tomorrow because we know it will be a challenge.
"It is a fifth day pitch and they have a very good spinner in their attack.
"We have to have the belief we can do it throughout the course of the day."
2019 Qantas Ashes Tour of England
Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.
England squad: Joe Root (c), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes (vc), Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.
First Test: August 1-5,Edgbaston
Tour match: Australians v Worcestershire, August 7-9
Second Test: August 14-18,Lord's
Third Test: August 22-26, Headingley
Tour match: Australians v Derbyshire, August 29-31
Fourth Test: September 4-8, Old Trafford
Fifth Test: September 12-16, The Oval