England are 59-3 at lunch, trailing by 312 runs after Australia posted 371, with Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon taking crucial early wickets
ENGLAND were left reeling at 59-3 at lunch on day two of the must-win third Ashes Test after Australia were dismissed for 371.
The visitors trailed by 312 runs after the hosts added 45 to their overnight score of 326-8 in soaring 39-degree Celsius heat.
Joe Root was not out on 11 and Harry Brook was on six in a match England must win to keep the series alive.
Australia lead the five-match series 2-0 and will retain the Ashes with a win or a draw in Adelaide.
On a batting-friendly pitch, openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley navigated the early overs from Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.
The resistance was short-lived, as Cummins drew an edge from Crawley to wicketkeeper Alex Carey when the batter was on nine.
In a tactical masterstroke, Cummins then introduced spinner Nathan Lyon, who was controversially omitted from the second Test.
Lyon struck twice in a sensational opening over, with Ollie Pope flicking a catch to Josh Inglis for three before he bowled Duckett for 29.
Australia had resumed their first innings at 326-8, built on Alex Carey’s 106 and a gritty 82 from Usman Khawaja.
England were frustrated again by Starc, who plundered five quick boundaries before being bowled by Jofra Archer for 54.
Lyon and Scott Boland then added a further 23 runs for the last wicket before Lyon was trapped lbw by Archer for nine.
Archer finished with impressive figures of 5-53 from his 24 overs.
Carey’s emotional century on his home ground was the highlight of day one, coming months after his father’s death.
His innings was shrouded in controversy due to a Snicko technology error when he was on 72 and given not out.
England’s review failed, with replays later showing a noise spike before the ball reached his bat.
After play, Carey conceded he likely edged a Josh Tongue delivery, and the technology operator admitted an error had occurred. – AFP
