A pumped-up Australia ripped through England's fragile batting Thursday to leave the tourists staring down the barrel of a third Test defeat with their Ashes campaign on the brink, barring a miracle.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
At stumps on a sweltering day two, the visitors had ground to 213-8, trailing by 158 after Australia added 45 to their overnight 326-8 as temperatures soared to 40 Celsius.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
A gutsy Ben Stokes was not out 45 after facing 151 balls with Jofra Archer on 30 in a Test England must win and on a pitch ideal for batting.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
They were not helped by another suspect decision by the Snicko technology, but at least avoided the follow-on.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Australia lead the five-match series 2-0 and will retain the urn if they win or draw after back-to-back eight-wicket thumpings in Perth and Brisbane.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Opening pair Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley saw off the early overs from Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But it was a mirage with England losing three wickets for five runs in a 15-ball blitz, the latest chapter in a familiar tale.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Cummins first tempted an edge from Crawley, on nine, to wicketkeeper Alex Carey in the Australian skipper's first Test since July after lower back issues.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
- Lyon strikes -<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n Then in a stroke of genius, he brought on spin king Nathan Lyon, who was controversially left out for the pink-ball second Test at the Gabba.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Lyon grabbed two wickets in a sensational opening over with a hapless Ollie Pope (3) flicking to Josh Inglis at midwicket before he bowled Duckett for 29.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Joe Root was fortunate to survive in the next over when he edged Scott Boland to Carey, but a review showed it did not carry.<\/p>\r\n\r\n England's most experienced player failed to capitalise and was gone in the third over after lunch to Cummins, with Carey collecting another edge.<\/p>\r\n\r\n It was the 12th time Cummins has dismissed Root -- more than any other bowler.<\/p>\r\n\r\n With the Ashes on the line, Stokes needed to show what he called "a bit of dog" and he barely flinched when a Starc bouncer dangerously hit the back of his helmet.<\/p>\r\n\r\n He was given the all-clear and set about rescuing the innings before Cameron Green was introduced just before tea and Carey took another catch to remove Harry Brook.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Jamie Smith settled in but departed for 22 when Carey took what Australia claimed was a faint bottom edge off Cummins.<\/p>\r\n\r\n The Snicko showed a small spike despite a gap between bat and ball, with Stokes shaking his head as Smith trudged off.<\/p>\r\n\r\n On day one, Carey starred with an emotional century on his home ground, but it was shrouded in controversy over a Snicko error when he was on 72 and given not out.<\/p>\r\n\r\n England failed to have the decision overturned on review with replays showing a noise spike before the ball reached his bat.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Carey later conceded he likely edged the delivery from Josh Tongue that was caught behind and the technology operator admitted to an error.<\/p>\r\n\r\n "In my view it's not good enough," Cricket Australia boss Todd Greenberg said of the technology before play started on Thursday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n "We're hoping to get some answers so we can be assured it won't happen again."<\/p>\r\n\r\n Scott Boland removed Will Jacks (6) and Brydon Carse (0) before Archer dug in with Stokes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n The hosts resumed on the back of Carey's 106 and a gritty 82 from Usman Khawaja, with Starc on 33 and Lyon yet to score.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Starc plundered five quick fours before being bowled by Archer for 54.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Lyon and Boland then piled on the pain in a 23-run last-wicket stand before Lyon was trapped lbw for nine by Archer, who ended with 5-53.<\/p>\r\n\r\n <\/p>\r\n\r\n <\/p>\r\n",
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}Also Read: <\/b> Live Cricket Score<\/a><\/h5>