They sang waltzing matilda as England 67 all out as Australia close in on Ashes

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

Canada: Free $30 Oye! Times readers Get FREE $30 to spend on Amazon, Walmart…
USA: Free $30 Oye! Times readers Get FREE $30 to spend on Amazon, Walmart…

England's hopes of regaining the Ashes look all but over after they were bowled out for 67 by Australia on the second day of the third Test at Headingley.

The home side was skittled for their lowest Ashes total since 1948 before Australia moved to 171-6, to lead by 283 at the end of a day when 16 wickets fell.

It amounted to one of England's most dismal home Ashes days in recent memory, where they went from genuine optimism about leveling the series to the brink of being 2-0 down with two Tests to play.

Their reply to Australia's first-innings 179 was simply awful. The visitors' bowling was magnificent, but flimsy England was blown away in ideal batting conditions.

Pace bowler Josh Hazlewood took 5-30, while Joe Denly was the only batsman to reach double figures – his 12 is the lowest top-score in an England Test inning.

'This was England's chance – it feels like the Ashes are gone'

'Hope turns to gallows humour as England unravel at Headingley'

England have not prepared properly for Ashes – Vaughan

There was a glimmer of hope for England when Australia were reduced to 52-3 in their second innings, only for Marnus Labuschagne to take it away with his unbeaten 53 off 139 balls.

He was dropped twice and caught behind off a no-ball, each miss adding further frustration to England's desperately disappointing day.

At some point on Saturday or Sunday, Australia look likely to secure at least a series draw, which is all they need to take the urn back down under by virtue of their 4-0 success on home soil in 2017-18.

England were hammered by 251 runs in the first Test, but seemed to have reversed the momentum by having the better of the drawn second match at Lord's, not least because of the introduction of the pace of Jofra Archer.

It was Archer who bowled Australia out on Thursday with 6-45, giving England a golden opportunity to bat themselves into a dominant position in the Friday sunshine.

That they fell in such a pathetic heap was not only the latest in a long line of batting disappointments but also effectively ended what was shaping up to be a tremendous battle for the Ashes.

Instead of being level with two to play, England's best hope is to draw the series and end a winless run against Australia which is almost certain to move to nine matches.

As they do, they will have to consider how they use Archer, who hobbled off the field with cramp without being able to complete his 70th over in the space of nine days.

It was a sad contrast to the end of the first day when he was cheered from the ground. It perfectly mirrored the change in mood – from euphoria on Thursday, Headingley was a picture of deflated dejection on Friday.

SCORE BOARD

 Headingley (day two of five)

Australia 179 (Labuschagne 74, Archer 6-45) & 171-6 (Laubuschagne 53*)

England 67 (Hazlewood 5-30)

Australia lead by 283 runs

Share with friends
You can publish this article on your website as long as you provide a link back to this page.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*