Adelaide: Captain Pat Cummins’ bowling effort led Australia to stumble against England on the second day of the third Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday.
At stumps on a pulsating day, the tourists were 213/8 and trailing by 158 runs with just two wickets in hand. England captain Ben Stokes and No. 10 batsman Jofra Archer were unbeaten on 45 and 30 respectively to resume the visitors’ response on day three.
The Three Lions got off to a relatively decent start to their innings as their opening pair Zach Crawley (nine) and Ben Duckett put on a brisk 37-run partnership before Cummins gave Australia their first breakthrough.
Nathan Lyon struck twice in the 10th over, dismissing Ollie Pope (three) and Duckett (29) to reduce England to 42/3.
England lost another wicket in the 17th over when Cummins dismissed Joe Root (19) and reduced the total to 71/4.
Following a flurry of wickets, Harry Brook and captain Stokes briefly anchored the innings with a cautious 56-run partnership for the fifth wicket, which culminated in the dismissal of Cameron Green late in the second session.
Brooke scored 45 off 63 balls with 2 fours and a six and was the notable run scorer for England.
Stokes later put on a 32-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Jamie Smith, who had scored 22 off 26 balls while in the crease.
His dismissal followed two more setbacks for the tour team before Stokes and Archer put on an unbeaten 45-run partnership for the ninth wicket to restore England to 168/8.
For Australia, Cummins took three wickets with the bowling, Scott Boland and Lyon took two each and Green took one.
At the start of the second day’s play, Australia resumed their first innings at 326/8 and added another 45 runs to the overnight score with two wickets remaining thanks to Mitchell Starc’s half-century.
The number nine batsman frustrated the England bowlers and he smashed nine fours for 54 off 75 balls, eventually falling prey to Starc, who took five wickets.
Apart from Archer, Brayden Garse and Will Jacks claimed two wickets, Josh Dungu with a scalp.