Australia may not have officially sealed the Ashes yet, but after England wilted under Adelaide’s scorching sun on day two, it increasingly feels like a matter of “when” rather than “if.” Ben Stokes fought valiantly, facing 151 balls and batting for over four hours for an unbeaten 45, but he found few partners on the blazing deck as England stared down a substantial first-innings deficit and fading hopes of keeping the series alive until Christmas.
Stokes had urged his side to “show a bit of dog” to mount a comeback from 2-0 down, but Australia, even without Steven Smith and Josh Hazlewood, proved too strong. Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon made an immediate impact on returning to the XI — Cummins picking up 3 for 54 in his first competitive outing since July’s Caribbean tour — as England were rounded up on what looked like a near-perfect day for batting.
England could claim only a minor consolation: Mitchell Starc went wicketless for the first time in the series. Even then, Starc had begun the day by smashing a flurry of boundaries to reach his second consecutive half-century, helping Australia add 45 runs to their overnight 326 for 8.
Technology, too, played its part in the drama. England were aggrieved when Jamie Smith was ruled out caught behind off Cummins by Real-Time Snickometer, following controversy over Alex Carey’s non-dismissal on day one. Earlier, Smith had survived a bizarre reprieve when the ball appeared to strike his glove rather than his helmet, while Joe Root was also spared when an inside edge to Carey wasn’t deemed a clean contact. Despite these debates, the overarching story remained: England had undermined their own chances with another subpar batting performance as temperatures neared 40C.
A poor start with the ball — highlighted by a heated exchange between Stokes and Jofra Archer, even as the latter secured his first Test five-for since 2019 — was compounded when England lost their top three in just 15 balls before lunch. Root fell for the 12th time to Cummins, who continues to dominate England’s premier batter, and the innings collapsed after a 56-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Stokes and Harry Brook.
Archer managed to hold firm alongside Stokes through the close, forging the second-longest partnership of the innings. Still, Australia held a lead of over 150, and England now faced the daunting prospect of batting last on a surface expected to deteriorate under the heat.
Day one had suggested Australia left a few runs on the board despite Carey’s maiden Ashes hundred pushing them past 300. England’s early optimism, fueled by Starc’s five-boundary burst in 12 balls, soon faded as Archer removed both Starc and Lyon on his way to a third five-wicket haul against Australia.
England’s openers had a solid start, though Ben Duckett survived some luck early on. Australia’s bowlers quickly demonstrated the discipline required in the baking conditions, with Cummins breaking through with a delivery that straightened to nick Zak Crawley through to Carey.
Lyon, returning after a brief absence in Brisbane, quickly overtook Glenn McGrath to claim second place on Australia’s all-time wickets list. Meanwhile, Ollie Pope’s struggles against Australia continued as he chipped meekly to midwicket, and Duckett was undone by a beauty from Lyon that turned past his bat to clip the top of off stump.
By 42 for 3, England were feeling the heat. Root nearly fell early, edging Scott Boland, but Gaffaney ruled the ball had bounced before reaching Carey’s gloves. Post-lunch, however, Cummins trapped Root, luring him into a defensive poke. Brook showed glimpses of aggression, hitting Starc for six over cover and cracking the ball to deep backward point to bring up a 50-run stand with Stokes.
Brook survived being given out caught down the leg side off Lyon on 44, only to be dismissed shortly after by Cameron Green, who delivered a perfectly angled ball that caught the outside edge.
Stokes held the innings together at the other end, facing 35 balls before finding the boundary, his disciplined effort helping England reach the close. He scowled as Smith was dismissed amidst continued Snickometer debates, his frustration mounting as Boland removed Will Jacks and Brydon Carse in quick succession. Stokes has worked wonders in an England shirt before, but keeping this Ashes campaign alive may require yet another miracle.
