England's hopes of retaining the Ashes are on the brink of disintegration after a punishing second day of the third Test in Adelaide, where a combination of fierce Australian bowling and scorching heat left the tourists in tatters.
Tourists Melt Under Australian Onslaught
At stumps, England had limped to 213 for eight in reply to Australia's first-innings total of 371 all out, facing a daunting deficit of 158 runs. The day ended with a late, stubborn stand between Ben Stokes, unbeaten on 45 from 151 balls, and Jofra Archer, 30 not out, but the damage had already been done.
The English collapse was orchestrated by a relentless Australian attack, with captain Pat Cummins leading from the front in his comeback match. He finished the day with figures of three for 54, delivering crucial blows that included the prized wicket of Joe Root after lunch.
Bowling Collective Outshines England
Cummins was far from a lone operator. Mitchell Starc provided raw pace, Scott Boland was miserly with two for 31, and Cameron Green broke a dangerous partnership. Off-spinner Nathan Lyon also made history, taking two wickets in his first over to surpass Glenn McGrath's career tally of 563 Test wickets.
England's batting order cracked under the pressure of nagging lines and lengths in furnace-like conditions. An early collapse saw three wickets fall for just five runs, with Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett dismissed in quick succession. Zak Crawley had earlier fallen to a Cummins beauty, setting the tone for a day of English struggle.
Snicko Controversy Mars Fiery Contest
Beyond the sheer weight of runs and wickets, the day was dominated by further controversy surrounding the Snickometer technology. Following Alex Carey's reprieve on day one, two more incidents after tea created uproar.
The first involved Jamie Smith, who appeared to glove a ball to slip. Australia reviewed, but syncing issues with the audio feed meant third umpire Chris Gaffeney could not overturn the on-field 'not out' decision. A furious Mitchell Starc was heard near the stump mic declaring, "Snicko needs to be sacked."
In a bitter twist for England, Smith was given out two overs later in another disputed decision, with the lag in the Snicko data being factored in by the officials. His dismissal for 22 left England reeling at 159 for six and sparked boos from the travelling Barmy Army.
With only the tail remaining, England's task on day three is one of sheer damage limitation. Australia, meanwhile, are poised to push for a victory that would secure an unassailable 3-0 series lead and effectively end English Ashes ambitions for another series.
