Australia have grabbed a 2-0 lead in the Ashes with a 120-run win at Adelaide Oval, where Josh Hazlewood effectively snuffed out England's hopes of victory during his opening spell on day five of the pink-ball test.
The Australian cricketers celebrate a Josh Hazlewood wicket Photo: Photosport
England had staged a tenacious fightback, aided by Steve Smith's decision to not enforce the follow-on during day three, but their hold on the urn is now tenuous after being rolled for 233 in Wednesday's opening session.
Only one team has battled back from 2-0 down to win an Ashes series, Don Bradman's Australia in 1936-37 on home soil. The third test starts next Thursday in Perth.
Joe Root resumed at 67 on day five, with his side 4-176 and requiring a further 178 runs to complete a record run-chase of 354.
History suggested it wasn't possible - England have never chased down more than 332 to win a test - but the agitated expression on Smith's face confirmed it was.
Root shaped as the tourists' beacon of hope but the captain was dismissed by Hazlewood without adding to his overnight score, undone by a hint of reverse swing and express pace.
Hazlewood, otherwise below his best in the second test, almost hit the 150 km/h mark in a fired-up opening spell that also featured the dismissal of nightwatchman Chris Woakes.
Mitchell Starc later had the second new ball hooping, snaring three wickets as Australia turned the screws to spare Smith the ignominy of losing after his declaration on day two.
Root and Woakes were both caught behind, with the latter succumbing to the second delivery of the day.
Umpire Aleem Dar pondered Hazlewood's appeal for what seemed like an eternity before giving Woakes his marching orders. Woakes reviewed but the snickometer showed a faint edge.
Root, who swapped barbs with Nathan Lyon, Peter Handscomb and Tim Paine at various points of a tense Test, trudged off during Hazlewood's next over.
Lyon claimed a key scalp in his opening over of the day, trapping Moeen Ali lbw for two. Lyon has now dismissed his fellow offspinner four times in the series.
Cameron Bancroft shelled a catch when Craig Overton was on five but England's debutant was trapped lbw by the first delivery with the second new ball - a pinpoint inswinger from Starc.
- AAP
