A pumped-up Australia ripped through England’s fragile batting Thursday to leave the tourists staring down the barrel of a third Test defeat with their Ashes campaign on the brink, barring a miracle.
At stumps on a sweltering day two, the visitors had ground to 213-8, trailing by 158 after Australia added 45 to their overnight 326-8 as temperatures soared to 40 Celsius.
A gutsy Ben Stokes was not out 45 after facing 151 balls with Jofra Archer on 30 in a Test England must win and on a pitch ideal for batting.
They were not helped by another suspect decision by the Snicko technology, but at least avoided the follow-on.
Australia lead the five-match series 2-0 and will retain the urn if they win or draw after back-to-back eight-wicket thumpings in Perth and Brisbane. Opening pair Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley saw off the early overs from Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.
But it was a mirage with England losing three wickets for five runs in a 15-ball blitz, the latest chapter in a familiar tale.
Cummins first tempted an edge from Crawley, on nine, to wicketkeeper Alex Carey in the Australian skipper’s first Test since July after lower back issues.
Then in a stroke of genius, he brought on spin king Nathan Lyon, who was controversially left out for the pink-ball second Test at the Gabba. Lyon grabbed two wickets in a sensational opening over with a hapless Ollie Pope (3) flicking to Josh Inglis at midwicket before he bowled Duckett for 29.
Joe Root was fortunate to survive in the next over when he edged Scott Boland to Carey, but a review showed it did not carry.
England’s most experienced player failed to capitalise and was gone in the third over after lunch to Cummins, with Carey collecting another edge.
It was the 12th time Cummins has dismissed Root — more than any other bowler.
With the Ashes on the line, Stokes needed to show what he called “a bit of dog” and he barely flinched when a Starc bouncer dangerously hit the back of his helmet.
He was given the all-clear and set about rescuing the innings before Cameron Green was introduced just before tea and Carey took another catch to remove Harry Brook.
Jamie Smith settled in but departed for 22 when Carey took what Australia claimed was a faint bottom edge off Cummins.
The Snicko showed a small spike despite a gap between bat and ball, with Stokes shaking his head as Smith trudged off.
On day one, Carey starred with an emotional century on his home ground, but it was shrouded in controversy over a Snicko error when he was on 72 and given not out.
England failed to have the decision overturned on review with replays showing a noise spike before the ball reached his bat.
Carey later conceded he likely edged the delivery from Josh Tongue that was caught behind and the technology operator admitted to an error.
“In my view it’s not good enough,” Cricket Australia boss Todd Greenberg said of the technology before play started on Thursday.
“We’re hoping to get some answers so we can be assured it won’t happen again.”
Scott Boland removed Will Jacks (6) and Brydon Carse (0) before Archer dug in with Stokes.
The hosts resumed on the back of Carey’s 106 and a gritty 82 from Usman Khawaja, with Starc on 33 and Lyon yet to score.
Starc plundered five quick fours before being bowled by Archer for 54. Lyon and Boland then piled on the pain in a 23-run last-wicket stand before Lyon was trapped lbw for nine by Archer, who ended with 5-53.