Adelaide, Dec 17: Australia removed England openers Rory Burns and HaseebHameed to leave the tourists at 17/2 in 8.4 overs, trailing by 456 runs at stumps on day two of the second Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval.
After Australia, on the back of counter-attack from the lower-order, declared at 473/9 in the first innings, Mitchell Starc and Michael Neser took out Burns and Hameed before a large lightning strike outside the venue forced early stumps to be called on a day thoroughly dominated by Australia.
In the final session, debutant Neser and Starc inflicted more misery on England with stunning late cameos. Neser and Starc shared a rollicking 58-run stand off just 51 balls as the hosts’ lower-order, along with Jhye Richardson, added 89 runs in only 10 overs before captain Steve Smith declared the innings.
With the ball, Starc struck on the first ball of his second over as Burns edged a nipping away delivery straight to Steve Smith at second slip. Neser got his first Test wicket on just his second ball as Haseeb Hammed chipped to mid-on.
A massive flash of lightning outside the venue when Neser bowled the fourth ball to Dawid Malan prompted the umpires to take the players off the field, eventually causing stumps.
Earlier, MarnusLabuschagnecompeted his sixth Test century while Steve Smith fell short of his and Carey chipped in with a half-century as Australia piled on the runs on an improved yet hapless England bowling attack.
Resuming from 221/2, Smith got the first boundary with a fierce cut through point off James Anderson.
Labuschagne, who ended day one unbeaten on 95, reached his maiden century in the Ashes with a streaky edge past the slip cordon off Anderson for his eighth boundary in a gritty knock. Labuschagne reached the three-figure mark in 287 balls, making this his slowest century in Test cricket.