AUSTRALIA ON TOP AT THE END OF DAY 2
England ended the second day of the third Ashes Test in all sorts of trouble after Australia picked up plenty of wickets under the hot Adelaide sun.
Coming out eight down, the Aussies did well to add 45 to their overnight score, bowled out for 371 as Mitchell Starc got a half-century, the fast bowler continuing to shine as much with the bat as the ball.
Jofra Archer was the star for England, picking up the last two wickets to finish with a five-fer.
But then came the English batting performance, which once again left something to be desired. The openers made a start, but once Zak Crawley went, Ollie Pope soon followed.
‘England are wilting’ – Danger man Root caught out
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Ben Duckett and Joe Root got starts but could not go on, leaving England in all sorts of bother at 71-4.
Ben Stokes did everything he could to rebuild, first with Harry Brook who made a half-decent 45, then with Jamie Smith who clearly was not timing the ball fully. But when those two were gone – the latter via a controversial dismissal – England were in huge trouble.
A cramping Stokes and Archer took England to the close on 213-8, trailing by 158 runs with it all to do on what will be a big Day 3 in Adelaide.
ENGLAND 213-8 (STOKES 45, ARCHER 30)
OVERS 68
Lyon to bowl the final over of the day to Stokes. Who seems happy to block this over out and hobble off the pitch and out of the scorching sun.
Stokes pads up to one and everyone feels that grimace, he is in pain and in need of an ice bath, some water and some air conditioning.
Stokes sees out the over, and England trail by 158 runs at stumps on Day 2.
ENGLAND 213-8 (STOKES 45, ARCHER 30)
OVERS 67
Archer is on strike, and seems happy to block Green here.
He plays out a maiden, and remains on 30 from 48 balls. His captain is on 45 from 145 balls.
ENGLAND 213-8 (STOKES 45, ARCHER 30)
OVERS 66
Lyon is back into the attack, Cummins really rotating his bowlers in this final session of the day. Close of play is rapidly approaching now too – less than 10 minutes until stumps.
A couple of singles from the over, as England reduce the deficit down to 158 runs.
ENGLAND 211-8 (STOKES 44, ARCHER 29)
OVERS 65
This is another tidy over from Green, who has been very economical out there today. The last ball goes for a single for Stokes to again keep the strike.
But the captain is still limping, which is not boding well for him bowling – the Barmy Army will be hoping it is just cramp, and nothing worse.
Ben Stokes, England
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ENGLAND 210-8 (STOKES 43, ARCHER 29)
OVERS 64
Cummins to Archer, who knocks the ball away for a single. That brings Stokes back onto strike, and he is happy to block still.
His strike rate is hovering around 30 now, but 42 from136 balls is a proper Test innings. Stokes leading from the front as he so often does, despite battling cramp.
He hobbles another single from the final ball of the over to keep the strike.
England batsman Ben Stoke hobbles down the wicket with cramp on the second day of the third Ashes cricket Test match
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ENGLAND 208-8 (STOKES 42, ARCHER 28)
OVERS 63
Green is back into the attack, he got the breakthrough earlier and Cummins will be hoping his man can deliver again. And he nearly does! First Stokes clips onto onto his own thigh and that looked to hurt. Then Archer hooks one, again is short of the boundary but a diving Labuschagne cannot quite get there.
Things are happening out there, as Australia chase these last two wickets.
ENGLAND 202-8 (STOKES 41, ARCHER 23)
OVERS 62
Cummins brings himself back on. And he nearly gets Stokes, who gets a thick inside edge that somehow bounces over the stumps. Watching the reply, even Stokes winces at how close that was.
Stokes runs another single, and that brings up the 200. England are still 171 runs behind, but that least they have made it to another milestone. Get to 250, and the bowlers will at least have had a better rest.
Oh no Archer! He swipes at the last ball of the over, it flies hard and fast towards the boundary and drops between two fielders! Lucky, again.
ENGLAND 197-8 (STOKES 39, ARCHER 20)
OVERS 61
Starc continues from the other end. The strike rotates again; a single a piece for Stokes and Archer, who is fast catching up his captain score-wise.
A third single follows, as Stokes goes down on one knee to stretch his hamstrings, by the looks of things. Stokes came to the wicket with the score 71-4, which was quite some time ago.
ENGLAND 194-8 (STOKES 37, ARCHER 19)
OVERS 60
Lyon continues. Three singles from the over, Stokes doing well to rotate the strike in these conditions – the temperature still stands above 40 degrees out there.
The Aussies are chasing two more wickets, although their openers might not want them just yet with the cose of play not too far away.
ENGLAND 191-8 (STOKES 35, ARCHER 18)
OVERS 59
Starc to Stokes, who picks up a single. The players took drinks a moment ago, and Stokes was seen sunk on his haunches, towel over his head, looking… Tired.
But with Archer now on strike, the bowler is happy to go for his shots. A four from a no ball is followed by a drive through the covers for another boundary.
Archer is at least reducing the deficit, which now stands at 180.
Ben Stokes (R) makes the most of a drinks break as Jofra Archer looks on during day two of the Third Test Match
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WATCH: CARSE GOES FOR A DUCK AS ENGLAND LOSE EIGHTH WICKET
‘England in disarray’ – Carse clean bowled by Boland for duck
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ENGLAND 179-8 (STOKES 33, ARCHER 9)
OVERS 58
Stokes is struggling now, seemingly with cramp – he is hobbling between the wickets as they run three.
Archer gets down on one knee to sweep but he gets a top edge, the ball balloons up and lands… Safe. Lucky. Every lucky.
Lyon coughs up four runs but he won’t mind that if Archer is willing to go for his shots out there.
WATCH: CONTROVERSIAL MOMENT AS SMITH GIVEN OUT
‘Nonsense’ – More Snicko controversy as Smith falls
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ENGLAND 175-8 (STOKES 32, ARCHER 6)
OVERS 57
Archer finds the rope with a lovely timed shot, and the follow on is officially avoided. It is Starc from the other end at the moment, who has yet to pick up a wicket in this innings.
At the other end, Stokes is resting on his bat and grinning. He seems a little resigned out there at the moment. His 32 runs have come from 118 balls with a strike rate of just 27. So it is possible to survive out there, with a little patience.
ENGLAND 170-8 (STOKES 32, ARCHER 1)
OVERS 56
Stokes is happy to take an early single from Lyon, leaving Archer on strike. The fast bowler can bat, but in these conditions, with this scoreline – anything is a tough ask out there. Trailing by 201, at least England look set to avoid the follow on.
Archer gets a single to get off the mark. As oddly enough, the Barmy Army have fallen a little bit quiet.
ENGLAND 168-8 (STOKES 31, ARCHER 0)
OVERS 55
How good has the bowling been versus how bad the batting from England? It is hard to say – there have been some good balls, and the Australians have built the pressure nicely by restricting the run rate.
But certainly a few wickets were soft dismissals – and the pitch does not seem to have too many demons. Australia have just bowled well in home conditions, as you would expect.
There have not been as many wild swipes from England. For what that is worth.
It is a wicket maiden for Boland, who has 2-31 from his 12 overs.
WICKET! CARSE B BOLAND 0 (5)
Carse goes! Boland’s first ball of the new over is a beauty, and there was not much Carse could do about that. A little gap between bat and pad, the ball skimmed through low and the stumps fly.
England are now eight down. And Archer walks out.
ENGLAND 168-7 (STOKES 31, CARSE 0)
OVERS 54
It is 40 degrees Celsius out there, and Stokes has to be feeling the heat – in more ways than one.
He is blocking as much as he can, but needs to farm the strike now too, another thing to add to his workload. And it looks like he is starting to suffer with cramp.
It is a maiden over from Lyon.
ENGLAND 168-7 (STOKES 31, CARSE 0)
OVERS 53
Carse is the new man at the crease. England still trail by 203 runs here.
He sees out the rest of the over that did for Jacks, who at least kept Stokes company for a good long while.
But England lack runs, they are running out of wickets and to save this match from here, even on Day 2 – well. It will take something quite special.
WICKET! JACKS C CAREY B BOLAND 6 (29)
ENGLAND 168-7 (STOKES 31)
Oh no! Carey is stood up to the stumps again to Boland. The ball finds the edge, onto Jacks’ pads and balloons up to a diving Carey.
Jubilation for Australia, dejection for England.
Will Jacks of England leaves the field after being dismissed by Scott Boland of Australia
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ENGLAND 168-6 (STOKES 31, JACKS 6)
OVERS 52
Another maiden over for Lyon, who is keeping things very tidy. This is exactly what Jacks could not do yesterday for England – hold up one end while the quicks do the damage from the other end.
Nonetheless, Stokes offered up no chances there as he once again leads from the front.
ENGLAND 168-6 (STOKES 31, JACKS 6)
OVERS 51
Carey is standing up to Boland here behind the stumps. Stokes picks up a single, and then Jacks sees out the over, Carey retreating for the last ball.
Another tidy over, as Australia continue to build some pressure out there.
ENGLAND 167-6 (STOKES 30, JACKS 6)
OVERS 50
Lyon to Stokes, who gets a single off the second ball – no farming of the strike yet.
Jacks has been patient, but he drives through the covers for four. Lovely stroke.
Five from the over, as England trail by 204.
ENGLAND 162-6 (STOKES 29, JACKS 2)
OVERS 49
Boland to Jacks. Who is still watchful. Bazball has taken a break with these two at the moment.
It is a maiden over, Jacks has 2 from 19 balls, Stokes 29 from 99 balls.
Not the strike rate the fans are used to, but one that is needed if England want to get close to Australia’s total of 371.
DRINKS
So, while the players have a brief drinks break, let’s return to that Smith dismissal.
First and foremost, he was swinging at one, so there has to be questions about his shot selection considering the match situation.
But then comes the controversy. Did he make any contact? Snicko said yes, despite the technology not looking infallible out there. The English commentators were unimpressed with the decision to say the least.
“I think I’m as confused as everyone else. I do love the game of cricket, though. Something isn’t quite right. How many times does it just throw up another example of it, or get everyone to be tested? Snicker is having an absolute stinker,” was Alastair Cook’s opinion.
“The Australians, five minutes before, are going ‘Oh, Snicko’s got to be banned, get rid of Snicko’, all on camera, we’ve all heard them. And then all of a sudden, ‘Snicko’s great, that’s out’,” added Graeme Swann.
ENGLAND 162-6 (STOKES 29, JACKS 2)
OVERS 48
Lyon is back into the attack now as well. And Jacks offers half a chance there to short leg, but that would have been a stunning catch if Head had held on.
Two singles from the over, with Australia definitely chirping around the bat now.
ENGLAND 160-6 (STOKES 28, JACKS 1)
OVERS 47
Boland into the attack. Jacks showed some good fight in the second Test, and he needs more of the same here.
He sees out a watchful maiden as he tries to play himself in, with England needing a few moments of calm here to work out how to rebuild their innings.
ENGLAND 160-6 (STOKES 28, JACKS 1)
OVERS 46
England trail by 212 runs. It was a dramatic over, a controversial one too.
But Jacks is off the mark, England are six down and technology or not, England are in all sorts of trouble here.
WICKET! SMITH C CAREY B CUMMINS 22 (26)
ENGLAND 159-6 (STOKES 28)
Uh oh – here comes another review. It is from the toe end of the bat as Smith attempted a hook. And Snicko indicates there was contact.
Smith has to go, but this is turning into a big talking point. Again, the technology and what the naked eye sees do not seem to quite line up.
But Snicko showed a spike so… Smith walks off. It will be interesting to hear later if he thinks he hit that – if he’ll admit it either way.
Pat Cummins of Australia celebrates with team mates after the wicket of Jamie Smith of England
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ENGLAND 159-5 (STOKES 28, SMITH 22)
OVERS 45
Smith is not timing everything perfectly, but unlike Stokes, he seems happier to play his shots. That one is slapped down to cow corner for four off the bowling of Green.
The next one is an attempted hook, up in the air but it lands at Smith’s feet and he kicks it clear of the wicket. Green definitely targeting the keeper with some shorter stuff out there.
But Smith gets off strike, to leave Stokes with two balls to face. And he drives through the covers for four, textbook shot.
Stokes has survived 98 balls for his 28.
ENGLAND 150-5 (STOKES 24, SMITH 17)
OVERS 44
That over was all about Smith’s six and then the was it, wasn’t it. The commentators are still discussing Smith’s not out there, and whether the Australians had any right to surround the umpire and complain.
Given the catch almost certainly was not a catch, the helmet versus glove debate is rather redundant anyway.
REVIEW!
ENGLAND 143-5 (STOKES 24, SMITH 10)
OVERS 43.2
Smith opens up the next over by pulling for six! He gets hold of that one cleanly, but Cummins knows if Smith starts playing Bazball, he will offer opportunities.
And he does the next ball! Smith is given – caught by Khawaja. But it is immediately reviewed by the umpire. It comes off the top hand, off the glove and his hand is very much on the bat… But hang on. Snicko is showing that the actual deviation comes off the helmet not the glove. It’s one of those foreshortened angles that is slightly hard to read.
But after lengthy replays, Smith is not out. That came off his helmet… And the Aussies are unimpressed. They think it was glove. The result of the lengthy discussion of glove versus helmet means no one analysed the catch itself, which was one of those low ones where the ball possibly bounced just short.
But after all that, Smith is not out.
ENGLAND 143-5 (STOKES 24, SMITH 10)
OVERS 43
Green continues to be miserly here. Three dot balls to start the over with Stokes on strike.
Make that another maiden, Stokes, thinking about swinging at the last ball of the over but pulling out of it.
Green’s figures are 6-1 from four overs with two maidens.
ENGLAND 143-5 (STOKES 24, SMITH 10)
OVERS 42
Smith has a slash at one, and the thick edge flies safe and to the boundary. Penny for his captain’s thoughts watching that.
Cummins then throws in a no ball, as Smith tries to hook and misses. This is not exactly instilling confidence.
Smith manages a single to get off strike, and then Stokes gets a looser ball that sits up and allows Stokes to cream one to the boundary.
A single follows, to make it 11 from the over as Australia’s vice-like grip on the scoreboard wavers briefly.
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ENGLAND 132-5 (STOKES 19, SMITH 5)
OVERS 41
Green remains at the other end for Australia. He is hitting a good length, and Stokes is on defensive mode – no expansive strokes here.
Many English fans will be wondering why they couldn’t see this sort of resilience from the rest of the English batters, espeicllay in those first two Tests.
Another maiden.
ENGLAND 132-5 (STOKES 19, SMITH 5)
OVERS 40
Cummins is back into the attack after the tea interval for Australia.
Smith has not had a good series. Scores of 33 and 15 in the first Test, 0 and 4 in the second, and a few missed chances behind the stumps. But stick around with his captain here, and he’ll earn back some credit.
Cummins finds the edge but Smith has soft hands, and the ball bounces well before the slips.
A maiden over.
TIME FOR THE FINAL SESSION
Out come Stokes and Smith here. England need to bat out this session with these two at the crease, it is as simple as that. England trail by 239, in a must-win match.
Lose this, and the Ashes are gone.
ARCHER THE PICK OF THE ENGLAND BOWLERS
Earlier, Archer returned figures of 5-53 from his 20.2 overs. He was by far the pick of the English bowlers, showing some real menace. Perhaps those words from Steve Smith in the last Test rankled – but either way, he prevented Australia making an even bigger total earlier.
TEA RECAP: WHAT HAS HAPPENED SO FAR
So, England came out this morning needing two wickets to clean up the Australian tail. In the end, Mitchell Starc made a half century, going for 54. Nathan Lyon went for 9, Jofra Archer picking up both wickets for a fivefer.
Australia added 45 to their score, to finish on 371.
Cummins returns in style with early wicket of Crawley
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And then came England’s reply… They made it to 37 before losing Zak Crawley who was caught behind off the bowling of captain Pat Cummins. He went for 9, Ollie Pope went cheaply again, Ben Duckett made 29 before being cleared up by Lyon, and when Joe Root went for 19, England were in big trouble at 71-4.
Captain Ben Stokes and Harry Brook made a good go of rebuilding, until the latter was caught behind, leaving England in big trouble at 132-5, trailing by 239 runs.
WATCH: GREEN PICKS OFF BROOK AS BOWLING CHANGE WORKS FOR AUSTRALIA
‘Partnership-breaker’ Green sees off Brook on second ball
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ENGLAND 132-5 (STOKES 19, SMITH 5)
OVERS 39
Smith survives! A thick outside edge off Green flies just wide of gully, and a diving Inglis cannot get near it. Lucky, very lucky.
That disappeared to the boundary for four though, so Smith gets off the mark.
A single gets a relieved-looking Smith off strike. Stokes survives the last three balls, and that is tea.
ENGLAND 127-5 (STOKES 19, SMITH 0)
OVERS 38
Lyon bowls a swift maiden there as England look to play out until tea.
There should be time for just one more over here.
Lyon has 2-33 from his 13 overs, Green is on 1-1…
ENGLAND 127-5 (STOKES 19, SMITH 0)
OVERS 37
England trail by 244 still. Stokes needs a captain’s innings and a half here.
Green concedes just the one, a no ball. Smith survives and England are limping towards tea here all at sea.
WICKET! BROOK C CAREY B GREEN 45 (63)
ENGLAND 127-5 (STOKES 19)
OVERS 36.2
Cummins makes a bowling change, bringing on Green. And he bowls a beauty, the line perfect, just shaping away and Brook gets the slimmest of edges to Carey behind.
Australia are buzzing, high-fives all-round as Brook trudges off.
And now Jamie Smith comes in needing to survive until tea.
Cameron Green of Australia celebrates after dismissing Harry Brook
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ENGLAND 126-4 (STOKES 19, BROOK 45)
OVERS 36
Lyon’s over goes for just the single, as England get a reprieve there.
Brook must have had his heart in his mouth, especially considering what happened yesterday with the technology.
If you missed it, give this a read – Carey was caught behind, but there was an ‘error’ with the technology and as a result, he survived before going on to get his century…
REVIEW! NOT OUT!
Oh no – this could be a disaster for England. Brook is given caught behind with Carey stood up to the stumps. He immediately reviews.
That was a very quick review and it is clear why, snicko shows no edge and Brook survives.
But that shows just how dangerous Lyon is going to be – and he’s going to be even worse in the fourth innings, if the match gets that far…
ENGLAND 125-4 (STOKES 19, BROOK 44)
OVERS 35
The Barmy Army are in good voice despite sitting in the full glare of the sun, there is not much shade to be had out there and none whatsoever in the middle.
Stokes has survived 64 balls for his 19, Brook 57 for his 44.
WELCOME BACK TO ADELAIDE
Well, well, well.
England are batting at the Adelaide Oval, with Ben Stokes on 19 and Harry Brook on 44.
Mitchell Starc is bowling, on a pitch that still looks good for batting truth be told.
It is a scorching hot day, and England need these two to go big.
Let’s see what they can do.
Harry Brook of England
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DAY 2
Welcome to TNT Sports’ live text coverage of the third NRMA Insurance men’s Ashes Test.
England began the day in high spirits after Australia were all out for 371 on what many felt was an excellent batting pitch, perfect for big totals.
However, the tourists saw their top order collapse yet again. The returning pair of Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins struck twice each, as England are four down.
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope went before lunch, with superstar Joe Root out shortly after the break.
Ben Stokes and Harry Brook are now set as the innings begins to stabilise, building a 50 partnership.
Watch every ball of the Ashes live on TNT Sports and discovery+
