Any hopes of an England survival were all but dashed with the exit of their “superhero” Ben Stokes in the first session of the final day of the Day-Night Test in Adelaide. He was trapped LBW by the off-spinner Nathan Lyon and England slipped to be left with just four wickets to save the game and go to Melbourne just 0-1 down.
Odds were already stacked against the tourists since Joe Root was dismissed on what turned out to be the last ball of the fourth day bowled by Mitchell Starc but England fans could have hoped for another miraculous escape by Ben Stokes. Before his dismissal, Ollie Pope failed once again and fell victim to Starc’s over the angle.
England were set a mammoth target as Australia managed to extend their lead of 273 runs to 468 runs and regular strikes with the new ball helped the hosts have momentum in their favour right from the start.