Typically, the third day of a Test is considered ‘moving day’. So it was at The Gabba in the Pink Ball Test, as Australia took control of not just the match, but the Ashes itself. Having batted their way into a commanding lead of 177 – Mitchell Starc donned his Superman cape while batting as well – the hosts then triggered a late collapse under lights that left England 134/6, still 43 behind. Barring another Ben Stokes miracle, the teams will leave the ‘Gabbatoir’ with Australia 2-0 up.
They had resumed Day 3 at 378/6, already well placed, but Starc and company didn’t just hang around. They ground out some tough runs, but also took toll of loose offerings to add 133 runs in 44 overs and reach 511 all out.
Starc batted over two-and-a-half hours for a gutsy 141-ball 77 and crucially added 75 for the ninth wicket with Scott Boland. All 11 Australian batters got into double figures for the first time since 1992, while England dropped five catches. Alex Carey, who eventually made 63, was reprieved early and Boland’s 72-ball effort ensured that Australia’s bowlers could steam in under lights.
With Starc slightly listless after his batting exertions, England actually started their second innings well. By dinner, they were 45/0, and showing defiance. Soon after the interval though, Boland bowled Ben Duckett with one that kept low, and after Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope had added 42 in good time, the wheels came off for the tourists.
The ball started zipping around as the surface quickened up, and England lost 5-38 in 15.3 overs. Both set batters gave Michael Neser soft caught-and-bowleds, while the Yorkshire duo of Joe Root and Harry Brook nicked off. Neither was given out on the field, but technology made sure neither escaped. Starc accounted for Root once again, and added the scalp of Jamie Smith for good measure. Another Player-of-the-Match award beckons in what has been a dream summer so far.
Brief Scores: England 334 (Root 138*; Starc 6/75) and 134/6 (Crawley 44; Neser 2/27) trail Australia 511 (Starc 77, Weatherald 72; Carse 4/152) by 43 runs.
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