Mitchell Starc has helped bowl Australia to a 91-run first-innings lead at Lord’s after England collapsed to be all out for 325 on the third morning.
In what all the time loomed as a vital session for not simply the second Test however your entire Ashes, England misplaced 6-47 in a horror 90-minute interval that might outline the collection.
Australia then received by a troublesome five-over interval earlier than lunch unscathed, going to the break at 0-12.
Australia’s large session got here whereas lacking chief spinner Nathan Lyon, whose availability for the remainder of the collection stays in critical doubt with a “significant” calf pressure.
But England could not capitalise after being 1-188 shortly after Lyon left the sector within the remaining session of day two.
Travis Head was left to step up as the subsequent spinner in line for the remainder of this Test, taking 2-17 as he helped run by the tail.
Starc additionally completed with 3-88, however notably took 3-33 with Lyon off the sector to alter the course of the Test match.
He eliminated each Ben Stokes and Harry Brook to start out the rot on Friday, after additionally bagging the important thing wicket of Joe Root on the second night.
It was the right return for the left-armer, who was omitted of Australia’s aspect for his or her thrilling two-wicket win to open the collection at Edgbaston.
England must be pissed off not solely with their collapse however the best way by which they threw away their wickets.
While Stokes (17) edged off to a stunning Starc outswinger within the first over of the day, Brook solely had himself accountable.
After three separate top-order gamers have been caught on the hook shot on the second night, Australia once more adopted a transparent short-ball plan to the hosts.
Brook obliged in attempting to take it on, backing away and trying to hit a bouncer from Starc again down the bottom.
It went straight to Pat Cummins at cowl, and Brook was out for a fair 50.
The momentum instantly swung to Australia.
Jonny Bairstow adopted shortly after and Stuart Broad, whereas surviving an unsightly blow to the jaw from Cameron Green, quickly fell lbw to Head.
Ollie Robinson was additionally caught behind off Head, earlier than England’s innings ended meekly with Josh Tongue caught in shut warding off a bouncer from Cummins (1-46).
With Australia a bowler down and a brief turnaround into the subsequent Test at Headingley, England would have benefited tremendously from protecting Australia within the discipline.
But as an alternative they managed solely 76.2 overs for the innings, and misplaced their final 9 wickets within the area of 38.1 overs to surrender the sizeable lead.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au