(Cricket news) Australia is ever so close to winning the 3rd Test in Melbourne and wrapping up the series. England at the end of day 2 are 31/4 trailing by 51 runs. Australia could wrap up the series tomorrow itself. The start of the day was delayed by 30 minutes due to a COVID scare in the England camp. Australia started the day on 61/1 with Marcus Harris and night watchman Nathan Lyon in the middle.
England started the day really well as Ollie Robinson got rid of the night watchman after Lyon hit a couple of boundaries. Mark Wood came into the attack and picked up Marnus Labuschagne early for just 1. Anderson started to really trouble both Steve Smith and Harris with some beautiful balls. The veteran bowler finally got his reward as he managed to get one through Smith's bat and pad as he was bowled on 16. Australia ended the first session on 131 for 4 trailing by just 54 runs.
While he was on 27, Travis Head edged Robinson's ball to 1 slip soon after lunch. Harris, whose place in the side was being questioned, answered the critics with a fine 76 off 189. He fell short of his ton as Anderson picked up his wicket. Alex Carey and Cameron Green occupied the crease for a good amount of time and got Australia past England's total. Jack Leech finally turned up and trapped Green in front. Stokes finally got his first wicket of the Test as he dismissed Carey. Anderson got his 4th wicket as he picked up the wicket of Pat Cummins. Mark Wood got Scot Boland as Australia were bowled out for 267 runs with a lead of 82 runs. England would've been content with their performance but what followed was disastrous.
Haseeb Hameed and Zak Crawley walked out to bat with England. Starc got rid of Crawley on 5 before trapping Malan in front on the very next ball. He came very close to getting a hat-trick as the next ball just went past Joe Root's outside edge. Debutant Scott Boland got two wickets late in the day as he got rid of Hameed before cleaning up meant to be night watchman Leech. Australia picked up 4 wickets but it could've been more as quite a few edges didn't carry. England need a minor miracle to rescue the match and keep the series alive. Australia could end the series tomorrow itself and retain the Ashes.
