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Jason Regan

Aussies go two-nil up in Ashes series

Joe Root is convinced a humiliated England can conjure a Bradmanesque miracle and win the Ashes after going two-nil down.


Jhye Richardson and teammates of Australia celebrate the wicket of James Anderson of England and victory for Australia on Day 5 of the Second Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval on Monday,. (AAP Image/Matt Turner)

After being crushed by Australia in a 275-run defeat in the second Test in Adelaide, Root's side must win the three remaining Tests to reclaim the Ashes. Only one team has ever come from two-nil down to win an Ashes series: Don Bradman's Australians in 1936-37.

"I don't think that Australia is that much better than us in these conditions as the scorelines might suggest," Root said.

Root said he was "fine" after being struck twice in the testicles on Sunday.

But he admitted frustrated this England team, which lost the first Test by nine wickets, hadn't learnt the lessons from four years ago when Australia at home won 4-0.

"Four years ago we got it wrong and we didn't learn from it," Root said.
"We have got to learn those lessons very quickly over the next week.
"I am convinced that we have got what we need to win over here, it's just we need to be better.

On Monday, Australia was made to work hard for victory with Joss Buttler a major stumbling block. Australia did eventually prevail and extend its perfect record in day-night Tests: nine games, nine wins.


Set 468 runs to win, the tourists were bowled out for 192 with some 21 overs remaining on the final day at Adelaide Oval. Replacement quick Jhye Richardson took his first Test five-wicket haul which included the stubborn Buttler who sadly stood on his stumps just after the tea break.


Buttler (26) soaked up 207 balls before being out hit wicket in the final session.

Playing a short Richardson ball to cover, he took off for a run only for his right heel to nudge into the stumps and gently dislodge the bails.



"I wasn't getting nervous," Australia's stand-in skipper Steve Smith said.
"I was still pretty confident but it was bizarre the way that wicket happened.
"He gave them a bit of a sniff there for a while."

Smith hailed the performance of his bowlers, with Richardson's 5-42 complemented by Starc taking six wickets for the match and Nathan Lyon taking five.


The Australian team now has a positive quandary to work through with Captain Pat

Cummins and new-ball seamer Josh Hazlewoodare both set to return to the squad for Boxing Day. Richardson's 5 wicket second innings and Mitchell Starc are also in fine form with one of the quartet likely to carry the drinks.



While England skipper Joe Root believes in miracles, Australia's Smith was already being asked about the prospects of a 5-0 clean sweep.

"We would love to," Smith said.
"But we will take it one game at a a time at the moment, that's all we can do.
"We would love to wrap it (the Ashes) up in Melbourne. But England are a dangerous side and capable of playing some really good cricket."

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