England are in desperate trouble after day four of the second Ashes Test in Adelaide, with Australia needing to claim another six wickets to take a 2-0 series lead. (Match result – Draw 11/1, Australia 1/25, England 125/1)
Having cantered to a nine-wicket success in the series opener at the Gabba, the Baggy Greens have dominated again at the Adelaide Oval and are already close to securing the retention of the Ashes.
The hosts began the fourth day in total charge already, on 45-1 in their second innings, and they eventually declared after they had reached 230-9.
Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head were joint topscorers as they both made 51, while Cameron Green finished on 33 not out, having failed to strike a boundary in 43 balls faced.
Ollie Robinson, Joe Root and part-time leg-spinner Dawid Malan each took two wickets as the tourists were set an almost impossible 468 to win in Adelaide, as they tried to avoid going 2-0 down in the five-match series.
And they were soon in trouble as opener Haseeb Hameed fell without scoring, edging behind to wicketkeeper Alex Carey off the bowling of Jhye Richardson.
Malan made 20 before being trapped leg before by Michael Neser and England were in disarray at 70-3 when Richardson struck for a second time to have Rory Burns (34) caught at slip by Steven Smith.
And there was one final blow just before the close, as skipper Root was caught by Carey off Mitchell Starc for 24, with England closing on 82-4, needing another 386 to win, or needing to bat out the whole of the final day to avoid defeat.
