MELBOURNE, Australia — A dazed
England lost four
wickets in a hostile late spell to leave them at 31-4 — still trailing
Australia by 51 runs — and fighting to save their Ashes hopes after day two of
a gripping third Test.
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It came after the visitors — who must win in Melbourne —
were rocked by four positive
COVID-19 cases in their camp, although no players
were among them.
Australia had been all out for 267, earning an 82-run lead
on England's first-innings 185 on an MCG pitch that was still offering plenty
for the bowlers.
Marcus Harris top-scored with a battling 76 against a
dangerous English attack led by veteran Jimmy Anderson, who was at his fearsome
best with 4-33 off 23 overs.
After heavy defeats in Brisbane and Adelaide, England must
win to keep the five-Test series alive, with Australia only needing a draw to
retain the urn as holders.
But faced with surviving the final hour against a revved-up
Mitchell Starc and
Pat Cummins, England collapsed again.
Struggling opener Zak Crawley never looked comfortable and
after dodging 15 balls he was caught by wicketkeeper
Alex Carey for five off
Starc.
Dawid Malan came in but incredibly was out first ball to
Starc lbw after an unsuccessful review, then Scott Boland ruined Haseeb
Hameed's day on seven, with Carey gloving an edge.
Fired-up Boland bowled Jack Leach without scoring two balls
to leave skipper Joe Root unbeaten on 12 and Ben Stokes on two -- and England
in deep trouble.
"On the bowling front I thought we did really well to
stick at our task throughout the day... we created a lot of chances, put a lot
of balls in the right areas and got our rewards," said Anderson.
"We knew that last 12 overs (batting) was going to be
tough with the new ball," he added. "But even so, to lose four
wickets was really disappointing.
"Starc and Cummins were outstanding."
England on the attack
Despite the disruption England took the early initiative on
day two at the MCG. Lyon hit 10 for the hosts before prodding at a full-length
Ollie Robinson delivery to Jos Buttler behind the stumps.
Harris smacked an early boundary off Anderson, but was
cautious. He survived an lbw review decision on 36 and a difficult stumping on
63 before his luck finally ran out.
Labuschagne, the new number one Test batsman, had a rare
failure, undone by the pace of Mark Wood, edging to Root on one in a massive
moment for a resurgent England.
Harris was joined by the usually reliable Smith, who made 16
before being bowled by Anderson to leave the match finely poised at that stage.
Head also succumbed to the safe hands of Root, off Robinson,
then Leach trapped Cameron Green lbw for 17.
Stokes removed Carey, also for 17, before late cameos from
Cummins and Starc added valuable extra runs for Australia.
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