England's hopes of building on yesterday's performance in the second Test of the Ashes were dashed today as Australia took charge. England had resumed on a promising 295 for four and were optimistic of making it past 400 but they then lost their last seven wickets for 47 runs.
The tourists' hopes of inflicting serious damage on their hosts were dashed as Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden forged a century partnership in just 19 overs. Even the loss of two quick wickets, with Craig White and Richard Dawson dismissing both openers in a three-over spell, failed to slow the momentum as Australia closed on 247 for two.
Afterwards, England coach Duncan Fletcher admitted his side wasted their advantage at the Adelaide Oval. "We got into a good position yesterday to go on and get into the later 400s, but we do have a long tail," he told Sky Sports.
"We've got somebody young and inexperienced like Richard Dawson coming in at number eight and it is unfortunate we didn't get more runs. We have a policy whereby we want to be attacking and I think we have done that over the last two years," he explained.
"But they see the situation as it is when they are out there and I am sure they had good reason for not getting the run-rate going. They were perhaps considering there is a bit of a tail there with Dawson at eight but possibly on another occasion they will maybe bat more positively," added Fletcher.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
