A day of low blows for Joe Root and England

It was a painful Day for England captain Joe Root as Australia strengthened their grip on the second Ashes Test. The visitors need a miracle to save the Test match from the situation they are in at the moment. England are 82-4 at the end of Day 4, needing 386 runs to win on the final day.

It was a hard day for every English supporter but skipper Root experienced the worst of them all. During the initial half of the day, Root could take the field after taking a blow on the tentative area below the abdomen during the before-play warm-up.

"England captain Joe Root will not be on the field at the start of play today after being hit in the abdomen during throw downs in the warm-up before play," the ECB statement read. "He is currently being assessed by the England medical team."

Later in the day, Root came out to bat with England struggling at 70-3. It was a nightmarish day for the England skipper who took another blow in the same area when a thunderbolt from Mitchell Starc hit his crouch. Root was seen in searing pain before being attended by the medical staff.

Just as when Root thought his agony is over, he was dismissed on the final ball of the day by Mitchell Starc to dent England's hopes of any miracle. Root couldn't have imagined a worse day on and off the field.