The Ashes: 3rd Test Day 2 - England staring at another Ashes defeat as Australia bowlers inspire another collapse

Despite a battling display by their bowlers, England are still staring at another Ashes defeat after the tourists closed the 2^nd day of the 3^rd Test, in Melbourne, on 31/4 - 51 runs behind Australia.

Match Summary

Australia vs England, Match 3, The Ashes

Australia 267/10 (87.5 ov)

England 185/10 (65.1 ov) & *31/4 (12 ov)

Day Break : Day 2 England trail by 51 runs

Scorecard

Stumps on day two in Melbourne ??

Simply incredible from Australia as they end the day with a bang ??#AUSvENG | #WTC23 pic.twitter.com/Xqm6KjWPFZ

— ICC (@ICC) December 27, 2021

 

The England bowlers earlier in the day had bowled them back into this match, dismissing the Aussies for 267 in their 1^st Innings -  a lead of just 82 - with Jimmy Anderson taking 4-33.

However, the England top order capitulated again, and they closed the day on 31/4, trailing by 51 runs.

Match Stats

England 1^st Innings Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Haseeb Hameed - 1.5 ov), 2-13 (Zak Crawley - 7.2 ov), 3-61 (Dawid Malan - 26.3 ov), 4-82 (Joe Root - 32.6 ov), 5-115 (Ben Stokes - 46.2 ov), 6-128 (Jos Buttler - 51.2 ov), 7-141 (Mark Wood - 55.5 ov), 8-159 (Jonny Bairstow - 58.4 ov), 9-176 (Jack Leach - 63.3 ov), 10-185 (Ollie Robinson - 65.1 ov)

Australia 1^st Innings Fall of wickets:  1-57 (David Warner - 14.1 ov), 2-76 (Nathan Lyon - 19.4 ov), 3-84 (Marnus Labuschagne - 24.3 ov), 4-110 (Steven Smith - 35.1 ov), 5-171 (Travis Head - 55.4 ov), 6-180 (Marcus Harris - 61.1 ov), 7-207 (Cameron Green - 72.5 ov), 8-219 (Alex Carey - 75.3 ov), 9-253 (Pat Cummins - 84.2 ov), 10-267 (Scott Boland - 87.5 ov)

England 2nd  Innings Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Zak Crawley - 4.4 ov), 2-7 (Dawid Malan - 4.5 ov), 3-22 (Haseeb Hameed - 10.3 ov), 4-22 (Jack Leach - 10.5 ov)But in a hostile final hour on a difficult pitch, Starc removed Zak Crawley and Dawid Malan in consecutive balls to leave England reeling at 7-2.

 

Playing XIs

 

Australia - David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey(wk), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon

England - Haseeb Hameed, Zak Crawley, Dawid Malan, Joe Root(c), Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler(wk), Mark Wood, Ollie Robinson, Jack Leach, James Anderson

 

Match Details

Start Time: 23:30

Toss: Australia won the toss and decided to field

Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

Officials: Paul Reiffel, Paul Wilson, Rodney Tucker, Shawn Craig, David Boon

©Cricket World 2021