2nd Ashes Test: Australia Beat England By 275 Runs, Lead Series 2-0

AUS v ENG: Spirited Australia overcame Jos Buttler's resistance to take a 2-0 lead in the Ashes going into the Boxing Day Test, which begins on 26th December at Melbourne Cricket Ground. 

Resuming the day at 82/4, Mitchell Starc struck in the second over of the day as he removed Ollie Pope for four. Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler battled hard for the next 11 overs and added 19 runs. But Nathan Lyon finally beat Stokes' defence and was confirmed LBW by DRS. The all-rounder played 77 balls for his 12. 

Chris Woakes joined Buttler to help England save the test. While the wicketkeeper wasn't given any chance to score runs, Buttler was happy defending. 

In the next session, Woakes continued to look positive and looked to score runs wherever possible while Buttler had gone into the shell of his own, defending and leaving anything that comes near him. 

Woakes hit 44 off 97 before Jhye Richardson's quick nip backer beat him and crashed onto the stumps. Buttler was joined by Ollie Robinson and the two batted with a dead bat, trying to save the game. Nathan Lyon finally got Robinson's outside edge as England lost their eighth wicket. 

Walking into the final session of the game, all eyes were on Buttler to save the test along with Stuart Broad. Buttler had already spent more than 240 minutes dead batting and it only took his own mistake, rather bad luck, to get himself out. Buttler got out hit wicket. 

It was the opening Australia needed and they wrapped up England innings in the next 10 minutes to take the 2-0 lead in the five-match series. 

Earlier, Australia's game was set up by Marnus Labuschagne's century and Steve Smith-David Warner's nineties. For England, Joe Root and Dawid Malan were the only two batters that showed a bit of fight in the first innings; Ben Stokes made 34 off 98 as well. 

Mitchell Starc led Australia's bowling attack, picking up six wickets in the test. He guided young Jhye Richardson to a five-wicket haul in the second innings. 

None of the bowlers for England were that impressive as they regretted not picking a specialist spinner and taking help from Joe Root, Dawid Malan. Even Robinson bowled a bit of spin in the second innings, summing up England's struggles in the second test and in this series in general. 

Brief Scorecard: 

Australia - 473/9D & 230/9D 
England - 236/10 & 192/10

Also Read: Ashes 2021-22 - England vs Australia Schedule and Squads