Related Links: Ashes 2013/14 in Australia – Schedule | Scorecard of Second Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval
Mitchell Johnson
Australia are well set to go 2-0 up in the Down Under Ashes Series with Mitchell Johnson once again running through the English line-up. The tourists resuming Day 3 having lost the important wicket of Alastair Cook were bundled out for a paltry total of 172 in 68.2 overs. Australia despite in a position to enforce the follow-on decided to bat again and by the close of play on Day 3 stretched the lead to 530 runs.
It was a poor batting day for England barring the duo of Michael Carberry and Ian Bell. England lost a couple of wickets through rank bad shots. It included Joe Root, who got out slog sweeping Nathan Lyon and the fancy Kevin Pietersen walking down the track and chipping a catch to mid wicket off Siddle. Michael Carberry looked solid in defence and the left-hander worked his way to a maiden Test fifty. However, his joy was short-lived when David Warner plucked a diving catch off a full blooded pull from Carberry (60 from 144 balls with 10 fours).
Ian Bell hardly got any support at the other end but still managed to score a brilliant 72 not out. Bell used his feet beautifully to hoist Nathan Lyon and the other Aussie bowlers for 4 sixes. The last six batsmen of England failed to even get into double figures! Mitchell Johnson cleaned them up while missing out a hat-trick twice in his 7 for 40 in 17.2 overs. There was considerable amount of reverse swing for the pacers and plenty of turn and bounce for Lyon.
England showed some promise with the ball in the second innings with James Anderson and Graeme Swann extracting some life from the drop-in pitch. Anderson struck twice early removing Chris Rogers and Shane Watson. Skipper Michael Clarke got bowled by a beauty from Monty Panesar. By stumps though, Australia eased to 132 for 3 in 39 overs with David Warner scoring 83 not out in 117 balls with 9 fours and a six.
