New Delhi:
England had given themselves a chance to draw level in the Ashes Test series after they had bowled Australia out for 179. Marnus Labuschagne and David Warner had scored fifties but the rest of the top order were blown away by Jofra Archer when he picked up 6/45, his maiden five-wicket haul. However, England squandered the opportunity in dramatic style when they put up a horror performance with the bat. Josh Hazlewood took 5/30 as England were bundled out for a woeful 67. Australia capitalised on this and they extended their lead to 283 at stumps on day 2 with Labuschagne scoring his third consecutive fifty as they came one step closer to retaining the Urn.
England's total of 67 was their lowest at home in 71 years, having last being bowled out for 52 against Australia at The Oval in 1948. In what was Sir Donald Bradman's final Test, England were bowled out for 52 with Ray Lindwall taking six wickets and Australia were boosted by a knock of 196 from Arthur Morris as 'Bradman's Invincibles' won the match by an innings. England's lowest Ashes total is 45 in the Ashes Test in Sydney in 1887 while in the 20th century, it was 61 in the 1902 Test at Melbourne.
After England conceded a lead of 112, England struck early as Stuart Broad removed Warner for 0, with the right-arm pace bowler overtaking Fred Trueman's record and becoming the most successful bowler in Leeds. Marcus Harris and Usman Khawaja struggled but Labuschagne shared a partnership of 66 with Matthew Wade as Australia ended the day on top. The problems for England were compounded when Archer clutched his right hamstring and walked away after bowling just 8.4 overs.
With a lead in excess of 300 and on a pitch assisting the pacers and spinners, Australia are on the cusp of possibly retaining the Urn for the first time on England shores since 2001. In that year, Steve Waugh's Australian cricket team defeated England 4-1 but their only loss in the series came at Leeds when England chased down 315 thanks to Mark Butcher's 173. Australia had ended their 18-year jinx in Edgbaston after winning the match by 251 runs thanks to Steve Smith's twin centuries and at Leeds, they could end yet another 18-year hoodoo.
