Late Root dismissal leaves England needing a miracle in Adelaide

Australia is in complete control heading into the fifth and final day of the second Ashes Test against England in Adelaide.

The Aussies require just six wickets to claim a convincing win in the day-night Test after removing England captain Joe Root with the last ball of play on Sunday night.

Root, who attempted to push on after copping a fierce delivery to the box, was removed by Mitchell Starc who had him caught behind by Alex Carey on 24 in what was a major setback for any English recoil.

You hate to see it... Joe Root cops one right where it hurts most 😂😳🍒

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— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) December 19, 2021

Starc strikes in the final over of the day! Joe Root is GONE!

📺 Watch #Ashes on Fox Cricket Ch 501 or @kayosports: https://t.co/jXcICX8TmZ
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— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) December 19, 2021

Earlier on day four, Jhye Richardson removed Haseeb Hameed for a duck, which was the 13th score of zero for an English opener in 2021 - the most for one team in a calendar year in the history of Test cricket.

Richardson also dismissed a plucky Rory Burns for 34 after Michael Neser had Dawid Malan LBW for 20 for the second wicket, not long after he was dropped by Steve Smith at first slip off the bowling of Nathan Lyon.

As a result of a nasty night session, the tourists find themselves 4/82 chasing a huge target of 468, needing a miracle to even come close to forcing a drawn Test, let alone winning it.

Ben Stokes will resume at the crease with Ollie Pope expected to join him when play gets underway at 3pm AEDT.

The Australian side is now odds-on to take a 2-0 lead into the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne on December 26.