Australia look to Smith and the spirit of Ali

Australia head into the fourth Test at Old Trafford starting Wednesday hoping Steve Smith and the boxer Muhammad Ali can revive their campaign following the hurt they felt at having the Ashes “stolen” from them by England.

The tourists were on the brink of retaining the Ashes only for Ben Stokes’s superb 135 not out delivered England a stunning one-wicket win in the third Test at Headingley.

Stokes’s heroics have left the five-match series poised at 1-1 with two to play.

Australia coach Justin Langer said his Ashes-holders would now take heart from an incident in Ali’s childhood.

“He got his bike stolen and that was the fire he needed to become the greatest boxer of all time,” said Langer.

“We felt a bit like we got the Ashes stolen the other day. They won that Test match, so we felt a bit like it’d been stolen from us.

“Now we’ve got to work out what we’re going to do, and use that as fire.

We’re not going to feel sorry for ourselves and let it slip,” added Langer, aiming to oversee Australia’s first Ashes series win in England for 18 years.

‘LITTLE DEMONS’

Australia will make at least one change, with star batsman Smith returning from the concussion he suffered after being hit by a 92mph Jofra Archer bouncer that ruled him out of the third Test.

Marnus Labuschagne, Smith’s concussion substitute at Lord’s, has made three successive Test fifties since his unexpected promotion into the side and retains his place with Usman Khawaja being dropped to make way for Smith’’s return.

Langer, hit several times on the head during his career as an Australia opening batsman, was confident Smith could overcome any doubts he may have felt after being felled by Archer.

“When you get hit, it’s always a little voice on your shoulder. You’ve got to have a good strategy and he works the game out better than anyone I’ve ever met in my life,” said Langer.

“If anyone’s going to get over any little demons it’ll be Steven.”

England will make one change from the team which beat Australia at Headingley, with Craig Overton replacing Chris Woakes in the seam attack.

Captain Joe Root said that Somerset seamer Overton would get his chance for a fourth Test appearance, having last featured in New Zealand in March 2018.

The only other adjustment England will make in the Test is in their batting order, with Joe Denly set to move up to open the batting, while Jason Roy moves down to number four.

England paceman Stuart Broad, the hosts’ leading bowler this series with 14 wickets at 25.35, was eager to see Smith face Archer again.

“I’m sure when Steve comes in Jofra will be in (England captain) Joe Root’s ear wanting the ball,” Broad said.