England's blistering performance has left Australia reeling as Ben Stokes' inspired decision to unleash his fast bowlers on the struggling tourists paid off in spectacular fashion. The visitors were bowled out for 172 in just 33 overs, a stunning display of raw aggression that sent shockwaves through the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Zak Crawley's early wicket marked the beginning of an impressive day for England, which would go on to claim 19 wickets at an average of under 15. The likes of Brydon Carse and Ben Stokes were particularly effective, with Stokes himself taking five crucial wickets as Australia struggled to cope with the English onslaught.
The Australian openers, Usman Khawaja and Jake Weatherald, were both dealt significant blows, while Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne found themselves under siege from England's pace bowling unit. The duo's partnership was eventually reduced to a mere 28 runs before being brutally dismantled by Stokes' team.
England's relentless approach to the game has been on full display throughout their Ashes campaign, but this display of raw aggression was particularly impressive. Despite being considered outsiders, the visitors showed remarkable resilience and determination, refusing to back down in the face of intense pressure.
As the day drew to a close, England's pace bowling unit looked ominously strong, with no signs of faltering despite being without key bowler Josh Hazlewood. The prospect of a series victory is now within their grasp, and Stokes' inspired decision has given them a significant boost.
For Australia, however, the disappointment will be palpable. Despite boasting some of the world's best players, they were comprehensively outclasssed by an English team that refused to back down in the face of adversity. The stage is set for a thrilling series, with England looking increasingly confident and Australia struggling to cope with the pressure.
Zak Crawley's early wicket marked the beginning of an impressive day for England, which would go on to claim 19 wickets at an average of under 15. The likes of Brydon Carse and Ben Stokes were particularly effective, with Stokes himself taking five crucial wickets as Australia struggled to cope with the English onslaught.
The Australian openers, Usman Khawaja and Jake Weatherald, were both dealt significant blows, while Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne found themselves under siege from England's pace bowling unit. The duo's partnership was eventually reduced to a mere 28 runs before being brutally dismantled by Stokes' team.
England's relentless approach to the game has been on full display throughout their Ashes campaign, but this display of raw aggression was particularly impressive. Despite being considered outsiders, the visitors showed remarkable resilience and determination, refusing to back down in the face of intense pressure.
As the day drew to a close, England's pace bowling unit looked ominously strong, with no signs of faltering despite being without key bowler Josh Hazlewood. The prospect of a series victory is now within their grasp, and Stokes' inspired decision has given them a significant boost.
For Australia, however, the disappointment will be palpable. Despite boasting some of the world's best players, they were comprehensively outclasssed by an English team that refused to back down in the face of adversity. The stage is set for a thrilling series, with England looking increasingly confident and Australia struggling to cope with the pressure.
England's aggressive approach to batting was SO inspiring! I mean, who doesn't love a good come-from-behind story? And Ben Stokes' decision to unleash his fast bowlers on Australia was pure genius 
! The Aussie team just couldn't handle the pace and aggression, it was like they were stuck in neutral 
. Meanwhile, England's batting lineup was on fire 
, with Stokes himself taking five crucial wickets 
! I'm loving this Ashes series so far 
, can't wait to see what the rest of it brings 
I mean, Ben Stokes' performance today was like something out of a movie, that guy's got some serious magic in his wrist 
. And what can you say about Australia's openers? They were getting smashed all over the place 
. It's like they didn't know how to deal with the English pace attack 
.
, and Australia's on the back foot 
. I'm thinking back to 2005 when England came back from being 2-0 down in the Ashes... it was a massive upset then, and this could be just as thrilling 
!
and i just tried one for the first time it's soooo good 
anyway back to cricket what is the point of ashets again 
isnt it like when england plays australia or somethin 
. Their batsmen are getting smashed by the English pace attack and it's only day 2 of the Ashes series 
. Stokes is on fire 
. And now, with Hazlewood missing, it just got a lot tougher for Australia 
... not looking good for them this series 
They actually managed to turn up and play some decent footy instead of getting all mugged off by the Aussies... but I guess that's what happens when you don't have a Josh Hazlewood to bail you out 
. I'm loving the raw aggression England showed out there, it's like they're trying to prove something. And Ben Stokes, man... he's like a superhero on the pitch 
. 5 wickets and looking like a total boss.
, where's the breakdown of how many wides were bowled out there? was it just a case of Australia being completely off their game or did England's fast bowlers really do that much damage? 
. I mean, who expects to get their batsmen out for just 172 runs in 33 overs? 
. The way they took out Usman Khawaja and Jake Weatherald early on was especially devastating 
. England might have won this battle, but the war is far from over 
!
.
. Stokes is on fire 
. Australia's got some great players, but they need to step up their game if they want to compete 
. England's pace unit looks unplayable right now, and Stokes' team's confidence is sky-high 
. This series just got a whole lot more interesting 
️!
England's determination and resilience are truly inspiring! Their pace bowling unit looked absolutely brutal out there. Stokes' decision was pure genius and will be remembered for a long time. It's going to be an intense series, but I think England's momentum is on their side now 