5th Test: Rampaging Australia on brink of Ashes whitewash

Hosts take 311-run lead after England’s batting collapse in first innings.

SYDNEY:

Australia were closing in on a 5-0 Ashes sweep after demolishing England’s batting and pushing their lead to 311 runs after just two days of the final Sydney Ashes Test on Saturday.

The relentless Australians blasted out the hapless tourists for 155 – the fifth time England had been dismissed for less than 200 in the series – and set their sights on batting them out of the game with three days to play.

At second day stumps Australia were 140 for four with Chris Rogers compiling his fourth half-century in five innings on 73 and George Bailey not out at 20.

“Day two, 300 plus lead’s a pretty good position to be in,” said Australia paceman Ryan Harris.

“I don’t think the wicket’s getting any easier. If we bowl like we did today [Saturday], I think we’ll go alright.”

Australia’s pace trio of Harris, Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle earlier took three wickets apiece as England narrowly avoided the follow-on in response to Australia’s first innings score of 326.

The tourists never recovered from a disastrous morning session when they crashed to 23 for five despite the efforts of Ben Stokes, Gary Ballance and Jonny Bairstow to repel the hostile home attack.

“It was pretty disappointing, but 326 is way over par on this pitch in my opinion,” said England batting coach Graham Gooch.

“So once that score’s on the board it’s always going to be difficult and once we lost those early wickets it’s going to be tough from this position.”

The tourists have failed to fight with the bat through out with Ben Stokes scoring their only century of the series in the third Test in Perth.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 5^th, 2014.

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