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 a weary not out 45 after facing a marathon 151 balls in searing heat with Jofra Archer on 30 in a Test England must win and on a pitch ideal for batting.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"He's worn out as you can imagine," said England batting coach Marcus Trescothick of Stokes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Lots of cramping, he's struggling to get the fluids in. He's struggling to get the carbohydrates in as he says he feels pretty sick.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"He's pretty broken in there at the moment."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The captain's mood was not helped by another suspect decision by the Snicko technology, but at least his brave knock -- including a blow to the helmet off Mitchell Starc -- helped his side avoid 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 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
- 'Nice to contribute' -<\/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
"Nice to contribute and finally get into the series," said Lyon, who admitted being "filthy" at being dropped for the second Test.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I just had to bowl good balls and do the basics well," added Lyon, whose 564th Test wicket moved him past fellow Australian Glenn McGrath and into sixth on the all-time list.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"There's no secret to what I do, just bowl in the right areas.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"(For) our fast bowlers to get them eight down in 68 overs is a pretty big effort."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Joe Root 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 showed what he called "a bit of dog" and he barely flinched when a Starc bouncer thudded into the back of his helmet.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But he lost a succession of partners, the first when Cameron Green removed Harry Brook, again caught by Carey.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
- More Snicko confusion -<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Jamie Smith departed for 22 when Carey took what Australia claimed was a faint bottom edge off Cummins.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Snicko showed a small spike despite a gap between bat and ball, with Stokes shaking his head in disbelief as Smith trudged off.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Carey;s day one century on his home ground had been 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 well before the ball reached his bat.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Carey later conceded he likely edged the delivery from Josh Tongue 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 quickly removed Will Jacks (6) and Brydon Carse (0) before Archer dug in with Stokes to see out the day.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Earlier 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 as Australia posted 371.<\/p>\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Nathan-Lyon.jpeg", "alt_img": "Nathan Lyon", "alt_title": "Australia Rip Through England on Day Two of Third Ashes Test", "image1": null, "video": null, "seo_title": "Australia Rip Through England on Day Two of Third Ashes Test On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "Australia dominated day two of the third Ashes Test, leaving England reeling at 213\/8. Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins led the charge while Ben Stokes fought valiantly, but Australia\u2019s 2-0 series lead puts them on course to retain the Ashes.", "seo_keywords": "Nathan Lyon, Ashes 2025-26, England Vs Australia, Ben Stokes, Pat Cummins", "tag": null, "tagging": "Nathan Lyon,Ashes 2025-26,England Vs Australia,Ben Stokes,Pat Cummins,", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": null, "slug": "australia-rip-through-england-on-day-two-of-third-ashes-test", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "1", "ians_date": null, "ians_time": null, "server_time": null, "trash": "0", "view_count": "543", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "1", "created": "2025-12-18 14:23:05", "updated": "2025-12-18 14:23:05", "img_from": "Image Source: Google", "img_source": null, "schedule_publish": null, "news_keywords": "Nathan Lyon, Ashes 2025-26, England Vs Australia, Ben Stokes, Pat Cummins", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "0", "google_feed": "0", "read_more": "1", "posted_by": "19", "jio_date": "2025-12-18 14:23:05", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "1", "google_date": null, "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": "Select", "article_content_type": null, "england_cricket": "0", "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/australia-rip-through-england-on-day-two-of-third-ashes-test-184267" }