England end day three of final Ashes Test in a dominant position with 377 run lead over Australia following 91 for Joe Root and 78 from Jonny Bairstow

England will today attempt to send Stuart Broad into retirement with another famous Ashes win.

The batters have done their job. Now over to Broad and the rest of the bowlers to complete a task they were unable to in Manchester last week due to the meddlesome weather.

Dismiss Australia over the final two days here and a series-saving victory at the Kia Oval would be a fitting send-off for one of their all-time greats.

And the man himself is unlikely to pass up an opportunity rev up the home crowd as the final curtain comes down on his 167-cap career.

As he walked out to bat at 6.13pm yesterday evening, trying to eke out more valuable tail-end runs, he took a moment to cast his eyes to every corner of the ground and survey the scene.

Moments later, Jimmy Anderson, his long-serving team-mate and dear friend, joined him in the middle with a knowing smile. There was some laughter between them too, as Anderson swept, both classically and reverse, for four off Todd Murphy.

They will return to the crease together for one final time this morning not to resume the partnership they are renowned for. That will come later in the piece with the separation of a duo with a combined 1292 Test wickets representing the end of a golden era for English cricket.

Attempting to prevent the fairytale farewell will be an Australian team that retained the urn courtesy of that fourth Test draw but one that has consistently publicised its goal to be the first from down under to win an away Ashes in 22 years.

To do so, they must not only defy the English attack, but chase down what would be the second biggest total in their history. Only once, when the Invincibles team of 1948 knocked off 404 three wickets down at Headingley, have they made more runs to win a match.

And even allowing for a few showers over the next 48 hours, and Australia’s pedestrian batting pace this summer, with two days remaining, a draw now appears out of the equation.

Australia began this tour with a Test win at the Oval that confirmed them as world champions in the format, but England showed yesterday that they would face a much sterner challenge at its end.

Third innings of Test matches have historically challenged the batting team to consider their strategy in setting up its final throes, a process that balances attacking with the threat of losing wickets in the process.

However, this England team only look one and their progressive approach – in contrast to Australia’s stonewalling 24 hours earlier – ensured they resumed their role as pacesetters in this series.

The 12-run deficit Ben Stokes’ team began the day with was wiped out inside the opening over.

In an echo of the start of the series in Birmingham, Crawley seized on a four-ball gift to open the innings, threading a cover drive through the unoccupied covers, this time off the wayward Mitchell Starc.

Two further boundaries followed after Crawley rotated the strike, as clearly wary of offering Ben Duckett any width, Starc was punished for over-correcting – a punch through mid-on and a flick through midwicket.

In one contrast to their recent bowling innings, Australia neglected the opportunity to start with protection in the deep but the boundary riders were soon re-deployed, bridling an initial burst that saw the 50-run stand come up inside nine overs.

Not since 2010-11 when Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook were the rocks upon which an historic success was built have England had such a prolific first-wicket pairing in an Ashes.

England hurtled to 130 for one at lunch as Australia once again struggled in differentiating lines and lengths to two players nearly a foot apart in height; one left-hand, one right.

They are two of the leading six run scorers in the series – Usman Khawaja is the only Australian – and the others were in on the act once Mitchell Starc found a feather of an edge to send back Duckett on review.

That dismissal for 42 had brought Stokes to the crease as the injured Moeen Ali’s stand-in on a crescendo of cheers.

Three balls after lunch, England’s captain took on a short ball from around the wicket delivered by Josh Hazlewood that spiralled off the top edge and found its way over the boundary at fine leg courtesy of Mitchell Starc’s fumbling attempt at a catch.

But it was a rare chance for the Australians as England continued a dominance that began with Stokes’ foiled glory chase at Lord’s.

After Crawley sliced a drive to slip for an excellent 73, Joe Root surged beyond Stokes on his way to am England record-equalling 90th Test score of 50-plus. The one that tied him with Alastair Cook occupying just 42 balls.

When Stokes miscued off Murphy and Harry Brook was sent back by a beauty by Josh Hazlewood in consecutive overs, some of the momentum was checked.

But England re-emerged for the final session to drive the score from 265 for four at tea via more dominance from Root and Jonny Bairstow, who followed his rollicking unbeaten 99 at Old Trafford by flying to another half-century.

The one positive sign for England was the misbehaviour of the Murphy delivery that turned and shot through Root’s defence nine runs shy of a century.

Stokes and Co will be hoping for some more naughtiness from the pitch over the remainder of the contest – to enhance the chance to make Broad’s last acts in cricket memorable ones.