Home side’s top-order stays solid as England suffer nightmare day.
Australia has completed a near-perfect day of Test cricket after finishing on 65-0 in their second innings with the home side enjoying a massive lead of 224 runs over England.
Alastair Cook and his men started the day with hopes of building a lead of more than 100 after their bowling attack did what they were had to on day one.
Instead James Anderson and company were forced to bowl again for 25 overs, after their batting line-up collapsed frantically after lunch, losing 39-6.
Mitchell Johnson was at his aggressive best while Nathan Lyon was on a hat-trick at one point, after taking the scalps of Ian Bell and Matt Prior.
England just managed to pass the follow-on in the evening sessions as Australian captain Michael Clarke continued to attack with his fast-bowlers, with plenty of short balls aimed at the tail from Ryan Harris and Johnson.
Stuart Broad copped a nasty short ball on the wrist before it clattered into his helmet.
The Englishman then received treatment soon after for the blow, with the team to keep a close eye on a possible on-going issue for the hero from the first innings.
Harris claimed the ninth wicket of the innings when Lyon took a smart catch coming forward at leg-gully.
Chris Tremlett went back to the sheds with eight next to his name as the score fell to be 110-9 as the England innings continued in free-fall
Broad did well despite batting with number 11 James Anderson, as he looked to be busy when facing up as he looked to turn the strike over, taking whatever runs were available.
England’s innings came to an end when Broad skied a pull-shot to Chris Rogers at deep mid-wicket, as the touring side was bowled out for 136, still a further 159 runs behind the Australian’s total.
Australia’s first innings lead was put into perspective when considering the highest total ever chased down at the Gabba in 236.
David Warner and Chris Rogers began solidly in their second time at the crease, as the England attack again struggled to extract any swing or seam from the new ball.
After 10 overs, and with the Australian side cruising to 37-0, England captain Alastair Cook threw the ball to Graeme Swann to see if he could replicate the heroics of Lyon earlier in the day.
Australia brought up their 50 thanks to Warner, who danced down the pitch to Swann before blasting him through extra-cover, as the lead grew to 210.
As England tried to get through all of their remaining overs allocated, and perhaps in a bid to pry out a late wicket, part-timer Joe Root was brought into the attack for the tourists.
However, the part-time bowler had no luck either as the home side survived unscathed until the end of play with Warner finishing on 45 and Rogers 17.
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