Tired England under fire in Adelaide

England reached stumps on day two of the second Ashes Test on 35 for one, barely surviving a pace barrage from Australia's fast bowlers in their chase of 571, after the hosts declared after tea.
England reached stumps on day two of the second Ashes Test on 35 for one, barely surviving a pace barrage from Australia's fast bowlers in their chase of 571, after the hosts declared after tea.
Centuries from Michael Clarke (148) and Brad Haddin (118), and a brisk not out fifty from Ryan Harris, saw the Aussies post 570 for nine declared. England then lost Alastair Cook as Mitchell Johnson bowled at nearly 160kph.
The hosts started the day on 273 for five, with Clarke and Haddin in the middle. The players wore black armbands and stood for a minute's silence in honour of former South African president Nelson Mandela, who passed away late on Thursday night.
When the cricket resumed, the skipper was close to a half century and soon reached that mark, while Haddin slowly progressed towards that milestone too. Australia batted at four to the over for much of the day.
There was a bit of drama when the umpires had to separate Haddin and England debutant Ben Stokes as they had a few words and drew handbags at dawn, but the batsmen continued and pushed the score past 400 in the afternoon.
The 200-run stand was finally broken when Stokes claimed Clarke's wicket, his first in Test cricket, with the skipper on 148. James Anderson took the catch diving forward and celebrations were somewhat muted for everyone other than Stokes.
Johnson and Peter Siddle fell cheaply soon afterwards, to Graeme Swann and Stokes respectively, before Haddin and Ryan Harris continued to add the runs. Haddin's century came just before tea, off 160 deliveries.
The evening session saw Haddin add just 10 more to his tea score before he was caught behind off Stuart Broad. He'd struck five sixes and 11 fours in his knock. This left Harris and Nathan Lyon to add 41 runs before the declaration.
England's chase got off to a dire start as Cook (3) found his stumps demolished by Johnson, whose moustache seemed to be giving him extra pace powers as he regularly hit the 95mph mark.
Michael Carberry and Joe Root were thus left to see out the rest of the day, with Johnson beating the bat more than once. Carberry was lucky to end the day unbeaten, as an LBW shout went unreviewed, but would have been out if DRS had been called upon.
Latest
-
News
Hampshire boost Blast title defence while Nathan Sowter inspires Durham
Yorkshire and Essex were the night’s other winners.
-
News
I was raging in Brisbane but now I’m comfortable with rotation – Stuart Broad
England’s veteran seamer is gearing up for whatever part he has to play in this summer’s Ashes.
-
News
Pat Cummins has no plans to rest as Australia captain targets every Ashes Test
All five matches take place in a period lasting just over six weeks.
-
News
Stuart Broad hopeful Andy Flower does not reveal England secrets to Australia
The Zimbabwean led England for five years between 2009 and 2014.
-
News
A look at three of the best Ashes series on English soil
There have been some memorable tussles between England and Australia.
-
News
Ashes major talking points as Australia gear up for first taste of ‘Bazball’
The series starts at Edgbaston next week.
-
Australia
Scott Boland edges Michael Neser for place in Australia XI for WTC against India
Josh Hazlewood’s side injury left Boland and Neser fighting for the final pace attack spot, and captain Pat Cummins did not leave the pair waiting.