Australia Close in on Ashes as England Falter Again in Adelaide Heat

Australia moved to the brink of retaining the Ashes as England’s resistance wilted once more on day two of the Test in Adelaide, leaving the visitors facing a heavy first-innings deficit and fading hopes of keeping the series alive.

Ben Stokes showed determination amid the collapse, batting for more than four hours for an unbeaten 45 from 151 balls, but England’s captain found little support as his side self-destructed on a day that increasingly tilted the contest Australia’s way. With England already 2–0 down in the series, the sense by stumps was that it is now a matter of “when”, not “if”, Australia reclaim the urn.

Australia’s bowlers struck decisively despite the absence of Steven Smith and Josh Hazlewood. Captain Pat Cummins, returning to the XI for his first competitive outing since July, claimed 3 for 54, while Nathan Lyon made an immediate impact on his return, passing Glenn McGrath to become Australia’s second-highest Test wicket-taker of all time. Together, they led a disciplined performance on what appeared to be a good batting surface under soaring temperatures approaching 40°C.

England’s only consolation came in keeping Mitchell Starc wicketless, though even that was tempered by the damage he inflicted with the bat. Starc blasted a rapid half-century as Australia added 45 runs to their overnight 326 for 8, pushing their total well beyond England’s reach. Jofra Archer eventually removed Starc and Lyon on his way to a five-wicket haul, but Australia’s advantage was already firmly established.

The day was again marked by controversy surrounding Real-Time Snickometer, with both sides expressing frustration at third umpire Chris Gaffaney’s decisions. Jamie Smith was adjudged caught behind off Cummins after Snicko showed a spike, following debate over Alex Carey’s non-dismissal the previous day. Smith had earlier survived when contact was ruled to be off his helmet rather than glove, while Joe Root also received a reprieve when an inside edge onto pad was deemed not to have carried cleanly to the wicketkeeper.

None of the debate masked England’s familiar problems with the bat. Their innings unravelled quickly as the top three fell within 15 balls before lunch. Cummins removed Zak Crawley with a delivery that straightened and bounced, while Lyon struck twice in an over to dismiss Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett, taking his wicket tally beyond McGrath’s.

At 42 for 3, England were already under severe pressure. Root briefly steadied things but was dismissed for the 12th time in Tests by Cummins, once again undone in the channel outside off stump. A 56-run partnership between Stokes and Harry Brook offered fleeting resistance, with Brook showing glimpses of aggression before being dismissed by a fine delivery from Cameron Green.

Stokes, meanwhile, adopted a dogged approach, taking 34 balls to score his first boundary and largely abandoning attacking instincts in an effort to bat time. His frustration was evident as wickets continued to fall around him, with Scott Boland removing Will Jacks and Brydon Carse in quick succession late in the day.

By stumps, Archer remained alongside Stokes, but Australia’s lead was already in excess of 150 runs. With England likely to bat last on a surface expected to deteriorate further in the heat, the task ahead looks formidable.

Stokes has called on his side to “show a bit of dog”, and England’s captain has produced remarkable comebacks before. But with Australia firmly in control in Adelaide, it may take another extraordinary effort to prevent the Ashes slipping decisively out of England’s grasp.