Ashes | Reliable Root keeps wasteful England competitive before Travball seizes initiative on Day 2

Gantavya Adukia

ByGantavya Adukia,SportsCafe Editor

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Australia took control of the fifth Ashes Test at the SCG on Day 2 by bowling out England for 384 courtesy of some more wasteful dismissals, despite Joe Root's resounding 160 holding down one end. The hosts headed into Stumps at 166/2, with Travis Head unbeaten on 91 at quicker than run-a-ball.

Joe Root singlehandedly kept England in the fifth Ashes Test with a knock of 160 on Day 2 at the SCG

Resuming from an overnight score of 211/3, England got off to a horrid start on Day 2 when Harry Brook went feeling for a ball in the channel and fell for 84 on the third over of the day, breaking a 169-run stand with Joe Root. Tails up, the Aussie quicks delivered 11 jaffas on the trot to new batter Ben Stokes, the last of which from Mitchell Starc saw him feather behind for a duck and suddenly leave the tourists reeling at 229/5. However, it did not stop Jamie Smith from walking out and countering on a pretty flat tack still albeit with more inconsistencies in bounce and seam movement the day before, and he nearly paid the price when he chipped Cameron Green to short cover on 22 only for the umpires to call it a no-ball. Another reprieve followed immediately when a thick edge flew between Alex Carey and Beau Webster between first slip, neither of whom made an attempt for the ball, even as Root brought up a resounding second ton of the series at the other end. The partnership grew to 96 and seemed destined to take England through to Lunch when Smith inexplicably tried to slap Marnus Labuschagne's medium pace bumpers and found the only fielder in the deep in front of point to depart for 46, sending England into the break at 336/6.

Australia got the new ball in hand two overs into the second session and immediately began enjoying extravagant seam movement, thus putting together a brilliant spell of bowling to shackle down the Englishmen. Will Jacks and Root did well to survive and put together a 52-run stand but the former was ultimately squared up by Michael Neser and walked back for 27. Green made light work of Carse before Neser scalped the remaining two wickets in the space of four deliveries, the first a brilliant caught and bowled to send Root back for 160, as England collapsed to 384 and early Tea was called.

Travis Head and Jake Weatherald walked out for the final session with purpose, the former flaying three boundaries in Matthew Potts' second over. The quick had a chance at redemption in his very next effort when Weatherald edged one to slip but Root could not hold on, and two more boundaries were added to his tally in the over. Two balls later, Weatherald offered another chance off Brydon Carse, this one a routine catch for Ben Duckett at short cover but the English failed to capitalize yet again and lost all momentum. The stand had grown to 57 when skipper Stokes took matters into his own hands by nailing Weatherald plumb with a yorker for 22, bringing Labuschagne to the crease. It was all Australia thereafter as the conventional Labuschagne and unorthodox Head harmonised beautifully to take England to the sword with a series of breathtaking shots, the latter's nearly affording the tourists a couple of chances. The duo added 105 runs at nearly run-a-ball but just when hope was teetering for the English, an altercation between Stokes and Labuschagne soon after resulted in the latter edging one to the cordon for 48 to hand the skipper a second scalp. Night watchman Neser fulfilled his job to perfection thereafter, even incurring a nasty blow from Stokes on the elbow on what turned out to be the final ball of the day as Australia headed into Stumps at 166/2, trailing by 218.

What a catch!

Lol!

Crowded!

Frustration

Lol!

Oh!

haha!

But why!?

Lol!

Stokes strike again!

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