England has vowed to keep “fighting and scrapping”, according to bowling coach Marcus Trescothick, despite the Ashes slipping from its grip on Thursday.
Only a stirring fightback can seemingly save the tourists, who need a win in the third Test against Australia in Adelaide to keep the series alive.
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They’ll resume on day three trailing by 158 runs with two wickets in hand after reaching stumps on day two at 8-213, in reply to Australia’s 371.
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.
Trescothick said it was disappointing they were unable to make more of an impact on a flat track perfect for batting.
England coach defends tactics on day two | 06:40
“We are behind the game again in the situation we currently stand,” he said. “But another 10 to 11 overs till the new ball tomorrow to try and score as many runs as we can and obviously then see what happens from there on in.
“But we’re disappointed, of course. I think we’re still fighting, we’re still scrapping away in terms of what we’re trying to do.
“We’ve just got to keep digging in and keep scrapping away and see what we can do.”
Stokes was at his dogged best, scoring an unbeaten 45 off 151 balls as temperatures touched 40 Celsius, but he had few mates.
Per Ben Jones on X, PitchViz indicated that of the last 100 Tests in Australia, only three surfaces had been flatter on day two than Thursday’s Adelaide Oval deck.
Aussies in charge at end of day 2 | 04:43
“This was actually the perfect pitch for England to go with that Bazball approach,” former England player Isa Guha said on Kayo Sports’ live Ashes coverage.
“It was coming on nicely, we saw it in the morning with the lower order of Australia. They were just getting their hands through it, it was flying to the boundary.
“But because Australia were so good with the new ball, they picked up three wickets in the first 10 overs. That was the difference in this game. England had to rebuild, had to compose themselves and they weren’t able to get away.”
Former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist said questioned whether the Bazball era was officially over.
“Eight days in, I’m wondering if it’s RIP Bazball,” Gilchrist said.
Guha calls for standardised review tech | 00:38
“We will have to wait and see.”
Ex-teammate Brett Lee cheekily added: “(It’s) Blockball.”
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.
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