England trail Australia by 135 runs after day two of the fourth Ashes cricket test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. After bowling out the hosts for 327 in their first innings, England scored 192 runs for the loss of two wickets in reply.
Australia has an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five match series.
Steve Smith and Shaun Marsh resumed the Australians’ first innings on 244 for three. They contributed 16 runs to take their total to 260 before England got the breakthrough. Debutant Tom Curren had his first test wicket, breaking Smith and Marsh’s 100-run partnership by dismissing the Australian skipper for 76.
Chris Woakes got his second wicket of the match bowling out Mitchell Marsh for nine to leave the hosts on 278 for five. Shaun Marsh’s sixth wicket stand with Tim Paine added 34 runs to take Australia to 314 before England struck again.
Stuart Broad dismissed Marsh for 61 with the initial not out decision overturned after a review by the visitors. Australia were all out for 327 after England’s bowling attack got the last five wickets cheaply for 13 runs.
In reply, England openers, Alistair Cook and Mark Stoneman scored 35 runs before Australia made the breakthrough.
Nathan Lyon dismissed Stoneman for 15. Cook’s second wicket stand with James Vince added 45 runs to England’s total before Josh Hazlewood dismissed the latter for 17. Joe Root and Cook’s 112-run partnership brought England back into the contest with Cook scoring his 32nd test century. Cook was unbeaten on 104 and Root on 49 not out at stumps, with England now just 135 runs behind the Australian first innings total.
