Cummins, Starc help Australia take control of Test

Ashes, Second Test Scorecard

In another enthralling day of Ashes cricket, England pulled things back with the ball to cut down Australia’s aspirations of setting a massive target with Stuart Broad the pick of the bowlers. Despite having a lead of 221 with just two wickets lost at stumps on day three, Australia managed to set a target of only 371 after England regularly picked up wickets.

But Mitchell Starc's burst with the new ball, one that accounted for Zak Crawley, caught down leg-side attempting an ambitious flick, and Ollie Pope, cleaned up by a fast in-swinging beauty, put Australia on top before Cummins ensured they stayed there with his double strike.

Starc, during his sensational spell, went past Mitchell Johnson's tally of wickets in Test cricket to become the fifth-highest wicket-taker for Australia in Test cricket. The left-arm seamer now has 315 wickets from just 79 Test matches.

Shortly after, Joe Root was undone by some extra bounce from Pat Cummins, and Harry Brook was worked over by a peach in the same over, leaving England reeling at 45/4, a huge target and a 0-2 series score staring them right in the face.

But, Ben Duckett and Ben Stokes revived England's fortunes with some solid batting, the duo putting on a half-century stand at a decent rate, although not at the pace England have newly embraced in Test cricket.

Duckett reeled off his second fifty in the Test, and was reprieved shortly after when a top edge off Cameron Green was caught at deep fine-leg by Mitchell Starc, only for the third umpire to rule that the fast bowler had grounded the ball while attempting the catch.

A tall ask awaits England on day five with more than 250 runs to gun down and just six wickets left in the bank. But having two well-set batters at the crease would give England hope as they go into a crucial day in the series.

Earlier, the hosts adopted the short ball ploy to success on day 4, with Stuart Broad getting a short leg cutter to climb on Khawaja, who top-edged the pull to the fielder in the deep.

Josh Tongue doubled the blow next over when Smith attempted a tame pull shot off him to find the fielder.

With the two set batters dismissed and Travis Head following them soon, Australia resorted to caution. The lead still being under 300 played a part in Cameron Green and Alex Carey playing with restraint.

Green, whose Test batting has often been in stark contrast to his scoring rate in the shorter formats, played out 67 balls for his 18 runs while Carey took 73 balls for his 21.

The duo successfully batted Australia to lunch, but with the lead still not outside England’s grasp, the duo departed in quick succession.

Marnus message: Ponting’s words of wisdom to Australia and their No.3

Green, tired of leaving and ducking under the short balls, eventually took one on from Ollie Robinson and picked out deep square leg.

Carey was bounced out too, the short one forcing him to fend one to Joe Root at short leg off Robinson.

The twin strike gave England renewed energy to have a crack at Australia and the visitors were reduced to 264/9 in no time with Stuart Broad and Ben Stokes dismissing Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood respectively.

Nathan Lyon, hobbling and clearly in pain, walked out to a big ovation from the stands and England players. Alongside Mitchell Starc, he stood up to another barrage of short balls from the relentless English attack.

With fielders spread out in the deep and England remaining persistent with the short ball ploy, runs were hard to come by. But the wicket wouldn’t budge either.

A couple of boundaries from Starc and one from Lyon himself pushed Australia’s lead over 370 before Broad picked up his fourth by bouncing out Lyon.