Australia rip through England’s top order in Adelaide, leaving the visitors 132-5 and trailing by 239 runs in the must-win third Ashes Test
ENGLAND are battling to save the Ashes after Australia ripped through their fragile batting lineup on the second day of the crucial third Test.
At tea on Thursday, the visitors were struggling at 132 for five, still trailing by 239 runs after Australia added 45 to their overnight first-innings total of 326 for eight.
Ben Stokes was unbeaten on 19 with Jamie Smith on five, after the key wickets of Joe Root (19) and Harry Brook (45) fell in the afternoon session.
England must win the match to keep the series alive, with Australia leading 2-0 and needing only a draw to retain the urn.
On a batting-friendly Adelaide Oval pitch, openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley initially navigated the new-ball spells from Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.
The resistance proved brief as England lost three wickets for just five runs in a devastating 15-ball period.
Captain Pat Cummins, playing his first Test since July, made the initial breakthrough by enticing an edge from Crawley (9) to wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
In a tactical masterstroke, Cummins then introduced spinner Nathan Lyon, who was controversially omitted for the second Test.
Lyon struck twice in his first over, removing Ollie Pope (3) and bowling Duckett for 29 to leave England reeling at 34 for three.
Root survived a huge scare in the next over when he edged Scott Boland to Carey, but the fourth umpire ruled the ball had bounced.
The reprieve was short-lived as Cummins removed Root after lunch, with Carey taking another catch for the bowler’s 12th dismissal of the England star.
Stokes showed resilience, continuing after a Starc bouncer struck the back of his helmet, before Cameron Green dismissed Brook via another Carey catch.
Australia resumed the day on 326 for eight, built on Carey’s emotional 106 and Usman Khawaja’s 82 on the first day.
Starc added a rapid 54 before Jofra Archer bowled him to complete a five-wicket haul, finishing with 5-53.
Lyon and Boland then added a frustrating 23 for the final wicket before Archer trapped Lyon lbw for nine.
Carey’s century on day one was shrouded in controversy due to a Snicko technology error when he was on 72.
England’s review was unsuccessful despite replays showing a noise spike before the ball reached his bat.
After play, Carey conceded he likely edged the Josh Tongue delivery, with the technology operator admitting an error. – AFP
