After a terrible day with the bat, England’s bowlers gave the travelling Barmy Army fans something to sing about in the final session on day three of the second Ashes Test in Adelaide.
Resuming on their overnight score of 29-1, England came into the third day looking to build on that score and chase down Australia’s first innings total of 442-8 declared. But within two sessions at the Adelaide Oval, the tourists had lost six wickets.
A strong 66-run partnership between Chris Woakes and Craig Overton saw England get above the 200-run mark. Overton, batting at nine on his debut, top scored with 41 not out as Joe Root’s side were skittled out for 227, still 215 runs behind the Australians.
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Home skipper Steve Smith didn’t enforce the follow-on and sent Cameron Bancroft and David Warner to the middle to build on their lead with 30 overs left to play in the final session.
James Anderson got the early breakthrough with Bancroft caught by Jonny Bairstow for only four. Then in the 18th over, Anderson struck again, trapping Usman Khawaja LBW for 20.
The loss of Warner, who was caught by Root off the bowling of Woakes for 14, followed by Smith, LBW bowled Woakes for six, left Australia at 50-4. They could only add three more runs before stumps.
Nightwatchman Nathan Lyon – who had earlier taken a sensational caught and bowled to dismiss Moeen Ali – will return to the crease alongside Peter Handscomb when play resumes at 3am tomorrow morning.
While Australia’s own mini-collapse will give England some hope, they still trail by 268 runs.
Anderson believes England still have a chance in Adelaide but were left frustrated by their efforts with the bat earlier in the day.
“We’re a long way behind in the game so we can’t over-attack in the field,” Anderson told ABC. “We’ve got an outside chance, [but] we’ve got a lot of work to do.
“We gave it absolutely everything and we’ve come away with four wickets, which we’re delighted with. We attacked where we could, bowled as full as we could and we got the rewards.
“We’ve got some very frustrated players in the dressing room. We should have got more runs than we did.”
Smith’s decision not to enforce the follow-on surprised some pundits, but Australia’s Mitchell Starc said: “There were pros and cons to both ways but it was up to [Steve] Smithy. There was no conversation with the bowlers. We have got to build our lead now.
“Night time is the best to bowl but we have got two night sessions to come in the game so it was no waste of the night session tonight.
“To have them 50-3 in the easiest time to bat is [a] big positive for us. To bowl them out for 227 and have a good lead is a massive tick for our bowling group.”
2nd Ashes Test: start time and TV coverage
What time does the 2nd Ashes Test start tomorrow?
The Adelaide Oval hosts the second Ashes Test until 6 December. Tomorrow’s action starts at 3am (UK time).
How to watch the 2nd Ashes Test on TV
BT Sport has exclusive rights to the Ashes and will show every ball live from Australia. For radio listeners, BBC Test Match Special will provide ball-by-ball commentary of all Tests on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra and Radio 4 LW.
Ashes 2017 fixtures and results: Australia vs. England
Ashes Test matches (GMT start times)
- 1st Test, Brisbane: Australia won by ten wickets
- 2-6 December: 2nd Test at the Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (day-night Test; 3am)
- 14-18 December: 3rd Test at the Waca, Perth (2.30am)
- 26-30 December: 4th Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (11.30pm)
- 4-8 January: 5th Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (11.30pm)
One-day internationals
- 14 January: 1st ODI at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (3.20am)
- 19 January: 2nd ODI at Brisbane Cricket Ground, Brisbane (4.20am)
- 21 January: 3rd ODI at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (3.20am)
- 26 January: 4th ODI at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (3.50am)
- 28 January: 5th ODI at the Perth Stadium in Perth (6.20am)
