England were battling to stay in the second Ashes Test on Friday Australia removed both the openers in a quick spell Under the lights for the second day to thrill the visitors. The home team declared their first innings at 473 for nine in Adelaide, leaving England to face a 40-minute try against a swinging pink ball. He didn’t do well against Mitchell Starc with Rory Burns under pressure in just three balls to get Steve Smith out for just four at second slip.
Haseeb Hameed hung on for captain Pat Cummins shortly before Michael Neser – who pulled out of the Test at the last minute for fear of the Covid – got his maiden Test scalp.
Hameed smashes Starc for a six at mid-on and Neser is surrounded by his teammates.
Once again, England’s fate rests with skipper Joe Root, who was unbeaten on five on one with David Malan as he reached the stumps for 17 for two after being struck by lightning.
England fell by nine wickets in the first Test in Brisbane and if they go down 2-0 in Adelaide, the Ashes is as good as Root’s men need to win the remaining three Tests.
Earlier, Marnus Labuschagne scored a brilliant 103 while David Warner (95) and Smith (93) provided vital support after Australia’s 221-2 resume.
Ben Stokes attacked England with 3-113, while Jimmy Anderson took 2-58.
Number three Labuschagne completed his epic century on Thursday after establishing himself by batting almost all day, scored his sixth Test century and hit his first century off 287 balls in the Ashes series.
But he struggled when Ollie Robinson was brought into the attack and was stuck lbw, adding just eight runs to his overnight 95.
Labuschagne said, “It was good to get that century, obviously there were some chances but sometimes it’s like, you ride your luck.”
“It feels like you have to grind for every run you’re out there.”
Steve Smith at it again
Smith played a brilliant knock of 93 to help Australia regain control after Travis Head and Cameron Green were dismissed one after the other after Labuschagne’s departure.
Upon his return from a ball-tampering ban, the stand-in captain was the major pain for England in the last Ashes in 2019, and kept his cool in Adelaide on fire.
He was supported by Alex Carey, who joined the squad as wicketkeeper for former captain Tim Paine, who stepped down on the eve of the Ashes over a text-message scandal.
Smith came to the crease when Warner was out and barely put a foot wrong, gave a special punishment to Chris Woakes, hit three fours in an over and then hit him for a big six.
He looked destined for his 28th Test century, but was dismissed lbw off Anderson, the England legend’s first wicket of the tour.
Carey fell for 51, his maiden Test half-century, to Hameed over Anderson’s cover.
Temperatures in Adelaide reached a peak of 37 °C (99 Fahrenheit), as England desperately needed wickets to stay in the game.
After an impressive 152 in the first Test in Brisbane, not only Labuschagne but Head were rewarded for their stubbornness, who was confident.
But Root’s part-time spin undone him, the England captain finding turn and bounce, hitting Head with a ball that spread him to one knee in disbelief, getting out for 18.
Green lasted only five balls, with a fuller delivery from Stokes hitting two runs in his off-stump.
publicized
Taylenders Starc and Neser sprinkled salt on the English wounds in a quick 58-run partnership before the declaration.
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