The Ashes: Australia taking dominating position with lead of 311 runs

Sydney:    Australia skittled England for 155 in its first innings and then built a lead of 311 runs on the second day of the fifth Ashes test at the Sydney Cricket Ground to edge closer to a 5-0 series whitewash.

Chris Rogers (73 not out) scored his fourth half century of the series and George Bailey was unbeaten on 20 to lead Australia to 140-4 at stumps after the bowlers had earlier ripped through the England batting lineup in just over four hours. The pace trio of Peter Siddle, Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris took three wickets apiece to dampen any hopes England may have had of avoiding a repeat of the 2006-07 Australian series sweep, despite a late rally by its bowlers after tea. [caption id=“attachment_1322599” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Chris Rogers got another half century. AP[/caption] Jimmy Anderson trapped David Warner lbw for 16 and had Shane Watson caught behind for nine, before Stuart Broad had Australia captain Michael Clarke caught behind for six. Ben Stokes then had first innings centurion Steve Smith caught by Alastair Cook for seven, but Rogers, who hit nine boundaries in his 89 balls, and Bailey still managed to steer Australia to a lead of over 300 runs before the end of the day. Earlier, Harris struck with the second ball of the morning, dismissing Cook lbw for seven after the England captain inexplicably did not offer a shot to a straight ball. Harris should have had another wicket the next ball, but Watson dropped the chance at first slip, despite getting both hands on the ball. The hosts’ disappointment was short-lived, though, as Johnson, who had captured Michael Carberry for a duck late on day one, removed Anderson for seven. Harris then took the prize wicket of Kevin Pietersen for three by moving the ball away from Pietersen’s defensive stroke and catching the edge through to Watson. Siddle (3-23) entered the attack next and captured Ian Bell for two, caught by Haddin to hold England to 23-5 before lunch. Spinner Nathan Lyon took the first wicket of the middle session, having debutant Gary Ballance caught behind by Brad Haddin for 18, before Stokes and Jonny Bairstow combined for a 49-run partnership to steady the tourists’ innings. Siddle broke the partnership by having Bairstow caught by George Bailey at short mid-on for 18 and then bowling Stokes for 47 after the allrounder made a poor judgment to leave a ball which cannoned into his off stump. Stokes, who took 6-99 in Australia’s innings, hit four boundaries and was the only England batsman to adapt to the hostile bowling conditions. Harris then removed debutant Scott Borthwick for one, drawing the edge which was well caught by Smith at third slip. Rankin combined with Broad for a last wicket partnership of 30 runs to help England avoid the follow-on, giving the team’s traveling supporters among the 43,579 crowd a rare highlight during another disappointing day in the Ashes series.