The Ashes | Day-Night Test: England's batting woes continue as hosts pick crucial wickets on Day 4

England’s struggle with the bat continued in the second innings of the Adelaide Test after they were reduced to 82/4 on the penultimate day of the clash with the likes of in-form batsmen Dawid Malan and Joe Root back in the hut. 

The visitors were handed a target of 468 runs in the second innings of the day-night Test and the Joe Root-side has once again failed to find any form with the willow. 

England had a disappointing start to chase as they lost opener Haseeb Hameed early in the innings after he was removed for zero by Jhye Richardson. 

Rory Burns was then joined by Dawid Malan and the two batsmen tried to steady the ship for the side and stitched a partnership of 48 runs before Malan was trapped in front of the stumps by Neser and was sent back for 20. 

Burns followed Malan after some time for 34 as Steve Smith held on to a good catch in the slips to give Richardson his second wicket of the innings. But England’s misery didn’t really stop here. 

Captain Root along with Ben Stokes once again tried to provide the resistance but some good bowling from the Australians fetched Root’s wicket eventually as the right-hander was sent packing for 24 by Mitchell Starc, leaving England struggling at 82/4. While Richardson had a couple of scalps at the end of the day, Starc and Neser picked up one apiece. 

Earlier, in the day, the English bowler showed some determination and mettle in the first session of the play and picked up early wickets to reduce the hosts to 55/4 with stand-in captain Steve Smith also dismissed. 

But Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head had some different plans. The two batters didn’t just bring the team back on track but also scored individual fifties during the course of the second innings. Apart from them, Cameron Green also chipped in with an important 33 to help Australia put 230/9 (D) on the board and continue the dominance in the match. 

Root, Malan and Ollie Robinson picked up two wickets each while James Anderson and Stuart Broad had one each to their names. 

Richardson later talked about Root’s dismissal at the end of play and also lauded Green after he scored some crucial runs for the side. 

“Nicely set up from Lyon from one end. Ruffled Root there and drew the false shot. I didn't think I bowled too badly in the first innings. The wicket has quickened up a little bit today. It was nice to see him (Green) get some runs as well,” he said. 

The Australian side is presently leading the five-match series 1-0 and would look to tighten up the grip with another win.