England were reduced to 17-2 in 8.4 overs – still trailing by 456 runs – before a massive flash of lightning swept the players off the field and called off the second day’s play early
Marnus Labuschagne became the first player to score three centuries in day-night Tests while skipper Steve Smith missed a ton as Australia thrashed England with a powerful total of 473-9 declared in the second Ashes Test on Friday .
Labuschagne scored 103 and Smith made 93 before Australia’s tailenders scored some quick runs against the worn-out England bowlers and Australia declared after tea.
England were reduced to 17-2 in 8.4 overs – still trailing by 456 runs – before a huge flash of lightning swept the players off the field and called off the second day’s play early.
Michael Neser got a wicket on his second ball in Test cricket when he was caught at mid-on by Haseeb Hameed (6) when Mitchell Starc caught Rory Burns (4) at slip off a ball that hit the left-hander. Walked across the batsman and took it. The shoulder of the bat
Starc (39 not out) and Neser (35) had earlier put on a quick half-century partnership for the eighth wicket when England felt the damage was done and Australia were at 390-7 at tea.
Jhye Richardson hit Chris Woakes (1-103) for a big six off his second ball at midwicket before Smith was declared, when Richardson was caught off Woakes.
Ben Stokes, who dropped a tough catch from Starc off his own delivery, finished with 3-113, but the game was over quickly before Australia removed both England openers cheaply.
Smith and Alex Carey (51) shared a joint 91-run sixth wicket partnership before Anderson removed both the batsmen in successive overs just before tea. Smith shuffled back across the line and was declared lbw and Carey took a simple catch at cover.
Earlier, England took three wickets during the first session after Australia resumed at 221-2.
In a dramatic 40 minutes to start the day, Labuschagne resumed on 95, smashing Jimmy Anderson for four as the third man to record his career sixth century and the first in the Ashes.
Moments later he was caught behind Ollie Robinson, trailing all the way to the boundary rope before replaying it was a no-ball.
Labuschagne fell in the 400th minute of his innings after Robinson tried to drop a ball in the next over, lbw.
Of the 3,068 players in Test cricket’s 144-year history, only Don Bradman, George Headley, Herbert Sutcliffe and Mike Hussey have reached 2,000 runs faster than Labuschagne’s total in 34 innings.
Bradman scored 2,000 runs in 22 innings, Jamaica’s Headley in 32 innings and England’s Sutcliffe and Australia’s Hussey in 33.
Labuschagne has now scored centuries in three consecutive day-night Tests at the Adelaide Oval, averages around 100 and has just one score below 40.
Australia’s first innings total can prove to be crucial in the outcome of the game. In the Day-Night Test, all the eight teams that batted first have won. And the eight teams reducing that point have all lost.
Australia are playing their ninth day-night match, and have won the last eight matches at home.
Travis Head, who scored his first Test century, was dismissed for 18 on Friday after being bowled off a ball by skipper Joe Root. Cameron Green soon followed for 2, bowled by Stokes when the England all-rounder pitched and the delivery went into his off-stump.
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