Aussies nose ahead
There was more DRS controversy as Australia edged closer to regaining the Ashes on the second day of the third Test against England at the WACA Ground on Saturday.
In reply to the home team’s first innings total of 385, the tourists were 180 for four at stumps on the second day, with Ian Bell on nine and Ben Stokes on 14, still trailing by 205 runs.
Australia lead the series 2-0 after wins in Brisbane and Adelaide, and can regain the Ashes with a win here.
Although in-form pacemen Mitchell Johnson went wicketless despite generating express pace, all of the other Australian bowlers used took a wicket each as several English batsmen failed to build on promising starts and the effectiveness of the controversial Decision Review System was again called into question.
The home team struck two key blows in the final session of the day, removing England captain Alastair Cook (72) and dangerous batsman Kevin Pietersen (19) in quick succession.
SCOREBOARD
AUSTRALIA: First innings (overnight 326-6)
Rogers run out (Anderson) 11
Warner c Carberry b Swann 60
Watson c Swann b Broad 18
Clarke c Cook b Swann 24
Smith c Prior b Anderson 111
Bailey c Pietersen b Broad 7
Haddin c Anderson b Stokes 55
Johnson c Prior b Broad 39
Siddle c Prior b Bresnan 21
Harris c Root b Anderson 12
Lyon not out 17
Extras: (lb-6, w-3, nb-1) 10
Total: (All out in 103.3 overs) 385
Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-52, 3-106, 4-129, 5-143, 6-267, 7-326, 8-338, 9-354
Bowler O M R W
Anderson 23 5 60 2
Broad 22 2 100 3
Bresnan 23.3 4 81 1
Stokes 17 3 63 1
Swann 17 0 71 2
Root 1 0 4 0
ENGLAND: First innings
Cook c Warner b Lyon 72
Carberry b Harris 43
Root c Haddin b Watson 4
Pietersen c Johnson b Siddle 19
Bell not out 9
Stokes not out 14
Extras: (b-10, lb-3, w-5, nb-1) 19
Total: (For 4 wikts in 68 overs) 180
Fall of wickets: 1-85, 2-90, 3-136, 4-146
To bat: Prior, Broad, Swann, Anderson, Bresnan
Bowler O M R W
Harris 15 7 26 1
Johnson 15 6 43 0
Watson 9 2 32 1
Siddle 13 5 27 1
Lyon 16 6 39 1
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