E
ngland face a battle to remain within the Second Ashes Test after a dismal collapse on the third morning at Lord’s left Australia properly on prime.
Already trailing 1-0 within the collection, England started the day on 278 for 4 and have been seeking to obtain parity, no less than, with the vacationers’ first innings whole of 416.
However, Ben Stokes ’s dismissal to the second supply of the day prompted a collapse of six-for-46 as England have been bowled out for 325, nonetheless 91 runs behind.
There remains to be hope for Stokes’s aspect, who overturned a 132-run first innings deficit to beat India at Edgbaston final summer season and won’t need to face Nathan Lyon in the fourth innings here, the spinner’s series in doubt after he suffered a “significant calf injury” on day two.
Ben Stokes was dismissed with the second supply
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This, nonetheless, was a depressing batting efficiency and Australia, who reached lunch unscathed, might be assured of taking a 2-0 collection lead, with just one group in Ashes historical past having overturned that scoreline to say the Urn.
England had at one stage on Thursday been cruising at 188 for one after a tremendous opening partnership between Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett laid a strong platform, however misplaced three wickets in fast succession after tea to reward Australia a foothold.
Each of these dismissals got here to the short-ball and whereas Stokes’s exit was the results of an outstanding slip catch by Cameron Green off the bowling of Mitchell Starc, the identical vulnerability was quickly uncovered.
Harry Brook, who had been dropped by Marnus Labuschagne taking over the short-ball yesterday, reached his first Ashes half-century however went no additional, swatting Starc straight to Pat Cummins within the deep.
Cummins was the catcher once more as Jonny Bairstow chipped Josh Hazlewood straight to mid-on, earlier than Travis Head helped mop up a protracted tail with two wickets, a well timed enhance for the part-time spinner, who’s in line to play a big function with the ball later within the match given Lyon’s absence.
