Ashes 2021/22 Day 3 Test 2: Australia keeps England found wanting

 The Australian Cricket Team showed their continued domination on England at the end of the 3^rd day of the 2^nd Ashes Test played at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

Starting the third day on 17 for 2, it was a good start by Dawid Malan and England captain Joe Root hitting bad deliveries away of Michael Neser and Jhye Richardson. After the initial spell, Starc was bought into the attack but both well-set batters kept the momentum going on. Root and Malan took the attack to Nathan Lyon.

It was a superb batting display by both Root and Malan keeping the scoreboard ticking with boundaries and rotating strike. Despite few misses, Root completed his fifty off 91 balls while Malan also reached his half-century off 86 balls. Root and Malan ensured that England the first session with scoreboard reading 140 for 2.

Malan and Root began the second session on a positive note. Cameron Green got the big fish getting rid of England captain Root caught by Smith at second slips. Root and Malan added 138 runs for the 3^rd wicket. Nathan Lyon and Green did not allow the England batters to score runs easily against Stokes and Malan. After surviving a close catch, Malan played a poor stroke slashing catch to Smith. With that wicket, Mitchell Starc became the first bowler grabbing 50 wickets in Pink Ball Test matches since its inception in 2015.

Nathan Lyon troubled the England batters especially Ben Stokes and Ollie Pope. Ollie Pope was given out but on review, it was overturned to not out due ball hitting the elbow. Before the drinks break, a superb catch by Labuschagne at short leg ended innings for Ollie Pope. The Australian bowlers kept on bowling nagging lines and lengths. Mitchell Starc then took the edge of Jos Buttler without opening his account. Ben Stokes kept his solid defense while Chris Woakes showed intent in keeping the scoreboard ticking. England went into the 2^nd session at 197 for 6.

The third session began well for Australia as Nathan Lyon took the wicket of Woakes taking inside edge onto the stumps ending 33 runs partnership for the 7^th wicket. Mitchell Starc and Steve Smith dropped a simple rebound catch chance. Ollie Robinson was trapped LBW by Nathan Lyon to leave England in tatters. Ben Stokes showed intent hitting big shots against Nathan Lyon and not giving Broad the strike. Green dismissed Stokes trying to clear the infield taking the inside edge onto stumps.

Australian captain Steve Smith took 2^nd new ball immediately. Jhye Richardson bowled sharp bouncers to Broad. After the initial barrage, Broad enjoyed himself before Starc ended the innings to bowl out England for 236.

David Warner and Marcus Harris came to open the innings as Steve Smith decided not to follow on. The Australian openers remained solid enough keeping the scoreboard ticking. A mix-up resulted in David Warner being run out. Warner and Harris added 41 runs for the opening wicket. Neser came as a nightwatchman as Australia ended the 3^rd day at 45 for 1.

Australia 473 for 9 in 150.4 overs ( Labuschagne 103, Warner 95, Smith 93, Stokes 3/113, Anderson 2/58) and 45 for 1 in 17 overs ( Marcus Harris 21*, Warner 13) lead England 236 in 84.1 overs ( Malan 80, Root 62, Stokes 34, Starc 4/37, Nathan Lyon 3/58) by 282 runs.

    

 

Australia end the 3rd day of the 2nd Test against England in a commanding position with a lead of 282 runs