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On Day 3 of the second Ashes Test, Australia inched ever closer to a commanding victory, leaving England on the brink of defeat. The Brisbane Cricket Ground witnessed a stark contrast between the two teams as Australia’s bowlers ran riot in England’s second innings, reducing them to 134/6 at the close of play.

England now trail by 43 runs, with just four wickets remaining. England’s batting lineup crumbled under the relentless pressure applied by Australia’s seam attack, led by Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland. With England on the back foot, Australia’s bowlers are poised to mop up the tail and take a crucial 2-0 lead in the series. Root’s lone resistance is the only hope for England, but it appears increasingly unlikely that they will be able to stave off defeat as the Australian juggernaut rolls forward.

England’s middle order collapses against Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland

England’s second innings unraveled spectacularly during second session of Day 3, as their middle order capitulated under the pressure from Australia’s pace and swing bowlers. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett started strong and add quick runs to reduced deficit for England. Ollie Pope and Joe Root tried to steady the ship, but Pope fell quickly to Michael Neser. From there, the wickets continued to tumble, with Harry Brook and Jamie Smith all failing to make significant contributions. Their top and middle order was torn apart by a relentless Starc, Boland, and Neser, who repeatedly found the right lengths and swing to make life difficult. By the end of the day, with England on 134/6, the team’s chances of forcing a draw or staging a comeback were looking increasingly slim.

Australia’s first innings command set the tone for the pink-ball Test

Australia’s first innings of 511 runs set a massive target for England, placing them in a commanding position right from the outset. The Australian batsmen, led by a well-paced innings from Steve Smith (61), ensured they built partnerships at key stages of the innings. However, it was Mitchell Starc’s late-order heroics that took the total past 500, as he struck a crucial 77 off 141 balls, playing with the kind of aggression that took the wind out of England’s sails.

Despite a determined effort from England’s bowlers, particularly Brydon Carse and Gus AtkinsonAustralia’s batters showed resilience and scored freely, reaching the 500-run mark without significant disruption. This innings proved to be a crucial turning point in the match, giving Australia not only a solid first-innings lead but also the psychological advantage going into England’s second innings. The sheer weight of the total meant that England’s batters, who struggled in their first innings, were always going to be under intense pressure in their second outing.

England on the verge of innings defeat against Australia

With Australia’s dominant performance in both innings, England now stand on the edge of defeat, staring down a tough task of saving the match. Root’s monumental effort in the second innings, currently unbeaten on 138, has been the only positive for England as the rest of the batting order crumbled in a heap. Australia’s bowlers, having already set the tone with a commanding 511-run total, will now look to clean up the tail and dismiss England quickly on Day 4.

England’s frailty is evident, and with only four wickets remaining, the likelihood of them surviving the day is diminishing rapidly. The cracks in England’s batting have been laid bare, and Australia’s bowlers, led by Starc and Boland, will be eager to finish off the job, giving Australia a 2-0 series lead. The match has swung decisively in Australia’s favour, and unless there is an extraordinary turnaround, England’s dreams of levelling the series in Brisbane will be dashed.

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