The last England pair continued to frustrate the Australian bowlers for the first few overs of day four, adding an extra 9 runs for the last wicket, but eventually Malcolm was out caught behind off Merv Hughes for 9, and England's first innings came to a close for 255 in 76.5 overs. Still 347 behind the Australian total, Border had no hesitation in making England follow on. Captain Gower decided that a captain's innings leading from the front was necessary, and promoted himself to number one in the order. Despite striking one glorious 4, it backfired spectacularly when he was out for 5 on the fifth ball of the innings, clean bowled by Geoff Lawson. Curtis added 6 and there was to be no heroics from Smith in the second innings, out for 26 to leave England at 67 for 3. Debutant Atherton looked to be finding his feet, despite being on the receiving end of some hostile bowling, and even more hostile sledging from Merv Hughes, and moved awkwardly on towards 50. He and demoted Moxon added a useful 49 for the fourth wicket, before Moxon succumbed to a peach of an in-swinging yorker by Alderman to have his off stump cart-wheeling backwards out of the ground.