Australia exerted total domination over England on day 3 of the second Ashes test on Saturday, building a huge lead by refusing to enforce the follow-on despite being 254 runs ahead after the first innings.At the close, Australia was 108 for no wicket, an overall lead of 362 with two days still to play.
First on Saturday, England was dismissed for 312 in reply to Australia’s imposing first innings score of 566-8 declared.Australia could have asked England to bat again but instead opted to bat for a second time and have England bat last, chasing a big total.Openers David Warner and Chris Rogers made batting look easy on a placid wicket and against a demoralized England attack.
Australia captain Michael Clark is likely to bat until around lunchtime on Sunday and set England an unlikely 500 over five sessions.While Australia bowled well, England’s batsmen were often the cause of their own downfall. Several of them displayed technical deficiencies that will worry new coach Trevor Bayliss, the Australian briefed to try to regain the Ashes for England.
On Saturday, England put on a slightly better show, but only captain Alastair Cook and allrounder Ben Stokes were able to stick around. Cook was dismissed four runs short of his century and Stokes scored 87 as several England batsman displayed frailties against the aggressive and disciplined Australian pace attack.Cook and Stokes shared a partnership of 145 but Australia’s bowlers remained patient and grabbed the crucial wickets of Stokes just before lunch and then Cook.
Brief Scores
Australia: 566/8 &108/0 (David Warner 60 not out, Rogers 44 not out) lead England: 312 (Alastair Cook 96, Ben Stokes 87; Josh Hazlewood 3-68, Mitchell Johnson 3-53, Mitchell Marsh 2-23) by 362 runs.