England 79/2 in 12.1 Overs | AUS vs ENG 4th Ashes Test Live: Jhye Richardson removes Brydon Carse; England 2 down vs Australia at MCG
Chasing a modest target of 175, the visitors reached tea on day two at 77 for 2 from just 12 overs, having lost Ben Duckett and Brydon Carse. Zak Crawley was unbeaten on 22, with Jacob Bethell on nine, as England closed in on snapping a long winless run in Australia and salvaging pride in a series that had slipped away early.
Moments earlier, a fired-up England attack wrapped up Australia’s second innings for 132 shortly after lunch, extending a frenetic contest that had already seen 20 wickets fall on the opening day. Travis Head top-scored for the hosts with 46, while Carse led the bowling with figures of 4 for 34.
England’s last Test win in Australia came in January 2011, followed by 16 defeats and two draws, and the intent from the openers was unmistakable. Crawley and Duckett went hard from the outset, embracing the ultra-aggressive approach that has defined the side in recent years.
Duckett pierced the infield off Mitchell Starc in his opening over, while Crawley took on Michael Neser with a six and a four off successive deliveries. The pair rode their luck early — Duckett was dropped on eight by Starc off his own bowling, and Crawley survived an lbw review on 15 — before racing to a 50-run stand inside seven overs.
The breakthrough finally arrived when Starc speared in a yorker to bowl Duckett for 34. England then sprang a surprise by promoting Carse to No. 3, but the move backfired as the fast bowler lasted just eight balls before lifting Jhye Richardson to Cameron Green.
Australia had resumed the day on 4 without loss after a dramatic first day in which 20 wickets fell, with the hosts dismissed for 152 and England skittled for 110 — the highest number of wickets to fall on the opening day of an Ashes Test since 1909, surpassing the 19 that fell in Perth.
On a pitch with around 10 millimetres of grass, bowlers dominated yet again, prompting criticism from former players who felt the surface offered excessive assistance and little for batters.
Travis Head briefly counterattacked in the morning, striking a boundary off Gus Atkinson, but England continued to chip away despite losing Atkinson to a suspected left hamstring injury. Scott Boland edged Atkinson behind, while Jake Weatherald fell for five, bowled by Ben Stokes by a ball that jagged back sharply.
Marnus Labuschagne managed just eight before edging Josh Tongue to Joe Root at slip, and Head’s resistance ended when Carse produced a delivery of genuine quality to breach his defence. With Usman Khawaja and Alex Carey dismissed in quick succession, England seized complete control.
Cameron Green fell soon after lunch, edging Stokes to Harry Brook, and the tail offered little resistance. Carse removed Neser and Starc without scoring, while Stokes accounted for Richardson as the last four wickets fell for 13 runs, leaving Steve Smith stranded on 24.
Despite England’s late push, Australia have already retained the Ashes after emphatic victories in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide.
