PERTH, Dec 15: England were battered and all but beaten with Australia on the verge of regaining the Ashes at stumps on the third day of the third Test here today.
Australia led by 134 runs on the first innings after the England tail folded meekly again before lunch and the home side were dismissed for 251.
The Australians were 235 for three in their second innings at the end of play for an overall lead of 369, with Shane Watson on 29, and Steve Smith on five and two days left to play.
Opener David Warner (112) capitalised on the shoddy wicketkeeping of Matt Prior, who missed two stumping opportunities from the left-hander, to post his second century of the series and take his tally for the series to 457 runs at 91.40.
By contrast, England’s highest scorer in the series is Michael Carberry, whose 157 runs at 31.40 is only 10 ahead of Australian tailender Mitchell Johnson’s aggregate.
Australia lead the five-Test series 2-0 after comprehensive victories in Brisbane and Adelaide and can regain the Ashes, which they last won in 2007, with victory in Perth.
As if England’s predicament wasn’t already dire enough, the tourists returned to the field for the Australian second innings without their best fast bowler Stuart Broad.(Agencies)
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