Kia Oval Talking Points: Stuart Broad upstaged by the diligence of David Warner

The Cricketer looks at the main talking points from day four of the fifth Ashes Test between England and Australia at the Kia Oval

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Movement That Inspires play of the day

David Warner is threatening to be Australia's matchwinner in south London - a doomsday scenario if you're an England follower.

The left-hander brought up a 36th Test fifty and a century opening stand with Usman Khawaja with an innings of great restraint.

However, there was one moment of aggression that highlighted that despite the trajectory of Warner's career being on the decline, he remains a world-class operator at his best.

Anderson got his length slightly wrong and Warner got low and drove the ball back over his head for four., holding the pose as the ball was being retrieved.

He heads into day five with the opportunity to upstage his great rival Broad and be the tourists' hero.

He couldn't, could he?

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Broad and Anderson arrived at the middle arm-in-arm on the fourth morning (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Take The Lead, Drive Electric moment of the day

The most memorable moment of the fourth day occurred before a ball had been bowled.

Fresh from announcing his retirement from cricket at the end of the summer, Stuart Broad walked out to the middle alongside James Anderson, on the day England's leading wicket-taker turned 41.

Australia gave Broad a guard of honour, while those assembled inside Kia Oval provided the soundtrack, with a standing ovation that could be heard all the way to Vauxhall station.

The structure of the English Test summer means this ground has played host to some memorable climaxes, and this week has been no different.

And when play got underway, the fans that did show up got another moment that was worth the admission price alone.

You could see Broad's eyes light up when Mitchell Starc dug in a bouncer, and he needed no second invitation. The 37-year-old took aim and bashed the ball over the boundary for six.

You'd have needed a heart of stone not to be moved by the whole occasion.

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Captains Ben Stokes and Pat Cummins (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

One more twist?

Few would deny we haven't been treated during this Ashes summer, with the men and women delivering thrilling finishes and epic finales along the way.

Day five at the Kia Oval looks set to deliver another, with Australia needing another 249 runs and England 10 wickets to deliver a fifth Test win.

A win or draw for the tourists gives them a first series win on these shores since 2001. Meanwhile, success for Ben Stokes' side sees salvage a 2-2 draw and will galvanise those making the argument they are the moral winners of the series.

But whichever side comes out on top, it is unlikely to be routine or without alarm. Indeed, it would be in keeping with this exhilarating summer if there is one final twist in the tale.


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