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Paul Farbrace defends England bowlers after Australia pile on the runs at the WACA

Saturday 16 December 2017 13:36, UK

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 16: Stuart Broad of England reacts after being hit to the boundary by Mitchell Marsh of Australia during day three of the Third
Image: Stuart Broad reacts after being blasted for a boundary by Mitchell Marsh

Assistant coach Paul Farbrace refused to criticise England's bowlers despite seeing Steve Smith and Mitch Marsh pile on the runs for Australia on the third day of the third Ashes Test at the WACA.

SCORECARD | AS IT HAPPENED

The tourists managed just one wicket all day as Smith and Marsh, with a career-best 229 and 181 respectively, shared an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 301.

Australia finished the day on 549-4 in reply to England's 403, leading by 146 runs, and in a strong position to regain the Ashes with two Tests still remaining.

But Farbrace felt England's bowlers did all they could on what was a tough day for the tourists.

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PERTH, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 16: Mitchell Marsh of Australia celebrates his century with Steve Smith during day three of the Third Test match during the 20
Image: Mitchell Marsh celebrates his century with Smith

"It's been a very, very tough day for our team," Farbrace told reporters. "I don't think we've learnt anything from today that we didn't already know.

"We don't have that extra pace and we haven't got the highest quality of magical spin. We've got what we've got and we've had to work exceptionally hard.

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"The one thing we do feel is that we've actually managed to get stuck in and keep competing as much as we possibly can.

"You'd expect that but in the field we've tried our best to back the bowlers up - it has just been an exceptionally tough day for our bowlers."

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 16: Steve Smith of Australia celebrates after reaching his double century during day three of the Third Test match during the
Image: Steve Smith celebrates after reaching his double century

Farbrace also confirmed that seamer Craig Overton has a cracked rib - the Somerset seamer was passed fit to bowl on day three in Perth after taking painkillers but his injury will be reassessed.

"Overton has carried on bowling with a cracked rib and that's been quite tough for him", said Farbrace.

"He looked the most likely to get a wicket yesterday. He got two good wickets, bowled a good length, got extra bounce and looked like he was going to be quite a handful for today.

England's Craig Overton (2nd-L) is checked over after appearing to injury himself while bowling on day two of the third Ashes cricket Test match in Perth o
Image: England's Craig Overton (2nd-L) is checked over after cracking a rib

"He's obviously found it tough going but he's shown a lot of guts by being in the field."

Australia are now overwhelming favourites to recapture the urn over the next two days but Farbrace is confident England can still save the match and keep the series alive.

"We've got two more days to play. It's going to be tough, of course, but we've got to show some guts and determination."

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