England collapses; Smith on verge of century
PERTH: This Ashes series remains a tale of two captains, with Joe Root’s daydreaming and Steve Smith’s dominance helping Australia steady on day two of the third test.
Momentum has swung frequently and violently throughout the series, which Australia leads 20, and yesterday at the Waca has been no different.
England posted a firstinnings total of 403. A recordbreaking partnership of 237 runs between centurymakers Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow was followed by a collapse of 35 for six.
Australia was 203 for three in response at stumps, trailing by 200 runs. Smith will resume on 92, eyeing his second century of the series.
England is sweating on the fitness of Craig Overton, who trudged off in much discomfort after bowling his 10th over.
The tourist was buoyed by the late lbw dismissal of Usman Khawaja for 50, then deflated by its third dropped catch of the day, which handed Shaun Marsh a life on seven.
Short leg Mark Stoneman and keeper Bairstow made a meal of a chance that one of them could easily have snared.
Smith strolled to the crease at 55 for two after both openers fell victim to Overton. The classy righthander attacked anything that was overpitched and passed 50 in 58 deliveries.
Smith was sensible, leaving good balls and rotating the strike, while Khawaja struggled to score freely.
Smith was stoic when struck with the final delivery before tea, wearing a rearing ball from Overton on the gloves and grille, then attentively ensuring it did not dislodge the bails.
Root, having failed with the bat on day one, successfully referred an lbw shout to dismiss Cameron Bancroft, but otherwise had a substandard day in the field.
The visiting captain bizarrely failed to pick up a thick edge that Khawaja offered on 28 at 125 for two; the ball careered through the slips cordon as Root moved the wrong way then haphazardly flung his arm out.
Root was also criticised by commentators for his bowling changes and field placings, especially the fact that Smith was on 47 when he faced Jimmy Anderson for the first time in the match.
Khawaja also went close to falling to Overton for a duck, with the paceman throwing himself to the left and almost reeling in a stunning onehanded return catch.
Earlier, Malan (140) and Bairstow (119) produced England’s highest fifthwicket partnership in a test against Australia. — AAP