Staff Reporter.
England face a huge battle to get back into the Ashes series after Australia dominated again on day two of the second Test in Adelaide.
After the hosts racked up 473-9 declared, England’s openers failed once more as Joe Root’s side closed on 17-2 in the day-night Test.
Rory Burns nicked Mitchell Starc to second slip for four in the third over and Haseeb Hameed chipped debutant Michael Neser’s second ball in Test cricket to be caught at mid-on for six.
Only a lightning storm, which took the players off 45 minutes from the end, spared England further pain under the floodlights.
Earlier, Marnus Labuschagne turned his 95 not out overnight into his first Ashes hundred before being caught behind off an Ollie Robinson no-ball on 102, only to fall lbw to the same bowler for 103.
That was one of three England wickets in the first session but Steve Smith once again thwarted any chance of a fightback.
Australia’s stand-in captain, who began on 18, put on 91 with Alex Carey in the late afternoon – the wicketkeeper making 51.
Smith was trapped lbw by a James Anderson delivery that kept low for 93, denying him a 12th ton against England, but some lower-order slogging – Starc added 39 not out and Neser 35 – allowed the hosts to declare with 90 minutes to play, although only 8.4 overs were possible.
England already trail 1-0 after a heavy defeat in the first Test in Brisbane and only once has a team come from 2-0 down to win the Ashes.
England vice-captain Ben Stokes: “Tomorrow is going to be a good day for batting. Australia showed us once you get in, it’s pretty hard to get out.
“Facing the new ball under lights is completely different. Tomorrow will be no lights. Australia showed how to capitalise if you get in.”
Stand-in Australia captain Steve Smith to ABC: “It’s a pretty tough wicket. You really have to grind, back your defence and leave well, then cash in if they bowl anything loose.
“Another seven runs would have been nice, but it doesn’t matter too much because of the position we’re in.
“There was some strange tactics at certain times. They bowled a fraction short with the first new ball, not hitting the stumps as hopefully our boys are able to do.”