Summary

  • Australia won by 120 runs

  • Australia lead 2-0 in five-Test series

  • England lose six wickets in session

  • Starc 5-88, Lyon 2-45

  • Root fails to add to overnight 67

  1. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 06:27 Greenwich Mean Time 6 December 2017

    #bbccricket

    Steve Stone: England`s shambolic bowling on day one set the tone for the game. Afterwards, it was like trying to shut the stable door after the horse has bolted.

  2. Postpublished at 06:24 Greenwich Mean Time 6 December 2017

    BBC Test Match Special

    More from Joe Root: "If we look at the way we played in the second innings, if we could reduce that deficit by 100 runs we would probably win the game. We have to dust ourselves off and come back strong next week."

  3. 'I was a bit nervous'published at 06:22 Greenwich Mean Time 6 December 2017

    Australia captain Steve Smith on BT Sport: "It's phenomenal to be 2-0 up in the series.

    "England fought really hard with the ball and last night. I was a little bit nervous. Sometimes it was just about trying to have a bit of faith and belief.

    "If you get enough balls in the right areas, you're going to get your rewards."

  4. Postpublished at 06:20 Greenwich Mean Time 6 December 2017

  5. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 06:17 Greenwich Mean Time 6 December 2017

    Text 81111

    Isn’t this a lot about mental attitude and bottle? England only played when the game seemed lost. And they then collapsed as the chances of winning became higher. James Vince played well under the radar but has barely got a run since he told the world the Aussies would ‘know who he was’.

    Big Bird, Northfields.

  6. 'Follow-on decision played on my mind'published at 06:15 Greenwich Mean Time 6 December 2017

    Australia captain Steve Smith, speaking to BT Sport, on not enforcing the follow-on: "Would I do the same again? I'm not sure. It's played on my mind a bit over the last couple of days - have I made a mistake?

    "My rationale was it's really long summer and I don't want to bowl my bowlers into the ground.

    "On another day I might decide to go another way, but we've won the Test match, so it's irrelevant."

    Steve SmithImage source, Getty Images
  7. Postpublished at 06:13 Greenwich Mean Time 6 December 2017

    Man of the match Shaun Marsh, speaking to BT Sport: "They batted well last night but we knew we were one or two wickets away from putting England under real pressure. We got a couple of early ones. It is a fantastic win and to go 2-0 up is credit to the boys.

    "We saw under lights when it was swinging around they have fabulous swing bowlers. They put us under pressure. They're a good team and will bounce back at Perth and we will have to be at our best to beat them again.

    "It was nice to get a few runs. To get a hundred in an Ashes series I am obviously very happy. I am looking forward to getting to Perth and having another crack at it."

  8. Man of the match - Shaun Marshpublished at 06:11 Greenwich Mean Time 6 December 2017

    Shaun Marsh was the man of the match in Adelaide, after his unbeaten 126 in the first innings. His 99 run partnership with Pat Cummins was crucial for Australia in further grinding England down. Marsh striking Stuart Broad back over his head for a glorious, towering straight six will becoming one of the defining moments of the series.

  9. How's stat?!published at 06:07 Greenwich Mean Time 6 December 2017

    Two Tests in and with Australia 2-0 up it is little surprise they dominate the statistics in the series so far.

    Most wickets

    • 14 - Mitchell Starc (Australia)
    • 11 - Nathan Lyon (Australia)
    • 8 - James Anderson (England)

    Most runs

    • 196 - Shaun Marsh (Australia)
    • 187 - Steve Smith (Australia)
    • 174 - David Warner (Australia)
    • 142 - Joe Root (England)
    .Image source, Getty Images
  10. Postpublished at 06:05 Greenwich Mean Time 6 December 2017

    Phil Tufnell
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    England have had opportunities in both matches, but every time they emerged, Australia slammed the door. At the crucial times, Australia have come out on top.

    There are positives. I've been impressed with Mark Stoneman, and Craig Overton looks like he has a bit of character.

    This performance has pepped England and their fans up. They’re walking a little taller- they’ve got some respect from Australia.

  11. What have you missed?published at 06:03 Greenwich Mean Time 6 December 2017

    If you went to bed last night hoping for news of a miraculous victory for England then, er, sorry. Australia have gone 2-0 up after England were bowled out for 233.

    A magnificent spell by Josh Hazlewood saw nightwatchman Chris Woakes fall to the second ball of the day, before Joe Root edged the same bowler behind in his next over.

    Moeen fell trying to sweep Nathan Lyon before Craig Overton, who took a nasty blow to the ribs early in his innings, was bowled by Mitch Starc with the new ball.

    Jonny Bairstow offered some valiant resistance but once Stuart Broad fell, it was only a matter of time, and Bairstow was bowled by Starc to end the innings, with England trailing by 120 runs.

    Starc ended with 5-88, Hazlewood took 2-49 and, crucially, Australia take another leap closer to regaining the Ashes.

    .Image source, Getty Images
  12. Postpublished at 06:02 Greenwich Mean Time 6 December 2017

    For Australia, I thought Pat Cummins looked terrific. There's not a bad bowler among them - there's control from Nathan Lyon, pace from all three bowlers, swing from Mitch Starc, accuracy from Josh Hazlewood... there's no weak link.

  13. Postpublished at 06:01 Greenwich Mean Time 6 December 2017

    This is a telling stat on England's batting struggles. Joe Root has also reached 50 three times in four innings during this series, and he's yet to kick on.

  14. Batting England's biggest concern - Baylisspublished at 05:59 Greenwich Mean Time 6 December 2017

    England coach Trevor Bayliss, speaking to BT Sport: "We are a little disappointed with the first couple of days but on days three and four we played exceptionally good cricket, on day four especially. In both Test matches we have competed for a couple of days but to win here you have to compete for longer than those two days."

    On whether it is the batting or bowling that concerns him most: "Certainly the batting. Yes we have got to take 20 wickets but to put pressure on the opposition, you have got to score more than 220.

    "All of our players have competed at different times and have showed they can bat. They have got to do it for longer and have to find a way to keep concentration."

    Josh Hazlewood celebrates wicket of Joe RootImage source, Reuters
  15. Postpublished at 05:57 Greenwich Mean Time 6 December 2017

    England have eight days between now and the start of the third Test in Perth, which begins on 14 December. They also have a tour match against a Cricket Australia XI, where Mark Wood is expected to appear for the tourists.

  16. I don't regret bowling first - Rootpublished at 05:54 Greenwich Mean Time 6 December 2017

    Captain Joe Root, speaking to BT Sport, on whether England believed they could chase 354: "Definitely. Last night and the day leading into that, we showed the side that we actually are. We need to make sure we repeat those performances for a longer period of time."

    Asked about bowling first after winning the toss: "I don't regret it. You want to give your bowlers the best chance - I fully expect those guys to take 10 wickets.

    "There's a lot of things you can look back on and say you want to do different, but I don't think that's one of them."

    Joe RootImage source, Getty Images
  17. Postpublished at 05:52 Greenwich Mean Time 6 December 2017

    Phil Tufnell
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    Perth is going to be tricky. From experience, that is a really fast, bouncy wicket, although it might have slowed down a little.

  18. Postpublished at 05:51 Greenwich Mean Time 6 December 2017

    Australia captain Steve Smith, speaking to ABC: "It all happened quickly. We thought last night that we were still in the box seat. 180 runs were a lot to score. We were very confident coming into today and Josh Hazlewood turned things around this morning with two breakthroughs early on."

    On his decision not to enforce the follow-on: "It is a really long summer. A lot of the time it does more at night. It did a little more but I think it is about the ball you choose. As we saw today the ball swung from ball one. It is something to look at going forward. There has been a lot of debate but in the end we won the Test match, that is the main thing."

  19. Postpublished at 05:49 Greenwich Mean Time 6 December 2017

    Let's hear a bit more from Steve Smith...

  20. Postpublished at 05:47 Greenwich Mean Time 6 December 2017

    Phil Tufnell
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    In Australia, you have to bat time. England haven't scored a hundred yet, whereas Australia's batsmen have dropped anchor and worn England down.

    England are still in that mode of, "let's try and dominate". Over here you have to get stuck in- bat time and you'll get rewards.