ENGLAND CLOSE IN ON ASHES
ENGLAND are three wickets away from regaining the Ashes after an irresistible burst from Ben Stokes left Australia reeling in Nottingham — and Michael Clarke pondering his future as captain. The tourists closed the second day on 241 for seven in their second innings, still 90 behind, after Stokes claimed a superb five for 35. Australia were spared the ignominy of their first two-day Test defeat since 1890 by bad light. Stokes, who produced his most impressive performance with the ball in Test cricket, said: ‘We only need three more wickets to get the Ashes back. They’re not quite in our grasp, but they’re very close. Down Under 18 months ago was my first experience of Test cricket, and it didn’t go too well. To still be in an England shirt and to be so close to being in an Ashes-winning side is great.’ Barring a miracle, England will go 3-1 ahead today with only the Oval Test to come, condemning Clarke to his fifth defeat in seven Ashes series and his fourth in a row on English soil. It will be a surprise if he hangs on after this. Reminded of Steve Smith’s pre-series jibe that England wouldn’t ‘come close’ to Australia in this series, Stokes allowed himself a smile,
before settling for some diplomacy. ‘We did see that,’ he said. ‘I don’t want to go too far with this quote. Hopefully, we’re going to lift the Ashes. ‘We came into this game without Jimmy Anderson, which was a massive loss, and we knew we had to perform. ‘I was really happy with getting the responsibility to bowl some extra overs.’ Clarke fought through 37 balls before suffering another failure as he was caught by Ian Bell for just 13, and Australian sources suggested he may quit even before the final Test at the Oval. Australia seamer Mitchell Starc, who claimed six for 111 in England’s first-innings 391 for nine declared, said: ‘There’s a lot of work to do to find any way to draw or win this game, but we’ll fight right to the last wicket or run. It’s in our nature. ‘It’s been a tough couple of days, but we’re not going anywhere.’ Asked about Clarke’s future, Starc said: ‘It’s disappointing as a group, but we’ll be sticking by each other. ‘We’re into the fourth Test and we’re making a few of those mistakes too often, whether it be with the bat or ball. ‘England have shown the way, especially in the last two weeks.’