Cricket: England’s batting woes continue – Gulf Digital News

Cricket: England’s batting woes continue – Gulf Digital News

MELBOURNE: England’s hopes of keeping the Ashes alive plunged yesterday as their batsmen again capitulated on a dismal opening day of the third Test against Australia in Melbourne.

Sent in to bat on a grassy wicket after returning Australia captain Pat Cummins won the toss, England were skittled for 185 to the delight of a festive Boxing Day crowd, leaving the tourists’ bowlers with an improbable rescue mission.

By stumps, that mission appeared doomed, with Australia having pushed to 61 for one on the strength of a quickfire 38 by David Warner.

Marcus Harris was 20 not out and nightwatchman Nathan Lyon yet to score.

Leading 2-0 after thumping wins in Brisbane and Adelaide, holders Australia need only a draw in Melbourne to retain the urn.

But Cummins’ men will be hell-bent on taking the series outright before the New Year Test in Sydney.

Joe Root’s England, meanwhile, need a miracle.

Only one team has ever turned around a 2-0 deficit to win the Ashes. That was Don Bradman’s Australia, winning the 1936/37 series 3-2 on home soil.

England could do little to repel Cummins, whose pace bowling accounted for three wickets in the morning.

But several soft dismissals after lunch crushed England’s hopes of salvaging a respectable