Australia in control after England’s meek surrender
Australia are in position to set England an imposing fourth-innings target at Lord’s, after batting their way to a big lead on a third day headlined by a major collapse from the hosts.
In what always loomed as a crucial day for not only the second Test but the entire Ashes series, Australia went to an early stumps at 2-130 and leading by 221 when rain stopped play.
And while Australia did well to navigate through gloomy conditions on Friday with Usman Khawaja’s unbeaten 58 leading the way, England’s blows were largely self inflicted.
Usman Khawaja at bat. Getty
With Australia without Nathan Lyon after scans confirmed a significant calf strain, the tourists quicks looked set for a long day in the field when England resumed at 4-278.
Instead, the hosts couldn’t even last 90 minutes as they lost 6-47 to be all out for 325.
Mitchell Starc finished with 3-88, but notably took 3-33 with Lyon off the field to change the course of the Test match.
Stuart Broad of England share a joke with Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins fter being stuck by the ball on the helmet. Getty
The left-armer removed both Ben Stokes and Harry Brook to start the rot on Friday, after also bagging the key wicket of Joe Root on the second evening.
It was the perfect return for the 33-year-old, who was left out of Australia’s side for their thrilling two-wicket win to open the series at Edgbaston.
While Stokes (17) edged off to a lovely Starc outswinger in the first over of the day, Brook only had himself to blame.
After three separate top-order players were caught on the hook shot on the second evening, Australia again adopted a clear short-ball plan to the hosts.
Brook tried to take it on, backed away and hit a bouncer from Starc straight to cover on 50.
Josh
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