The China Mail - England battle to save Ashes as Australia rip through top-order

At tea on day two, the visitors were 132-5, trailing by 239 after Australia added 45 to their overnight 326-8 as temperatures soared to 39 Celsius.

Ben Stokes was not out 19 and Jamie Smith on five after losing Joe Root (19) and Harry Brook (45) in the second session of a Test England must win.

Australia lead the five-match series 2-0 and will retain the urn if they win or draw after back-to-back eight-wicket thumpings in Perth and Brisbane.

On a pitch perfect for batting, opening pair Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley saw off the early overs from Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.

But it was a mirage with England losing three wickets for five runs in a 15-ball blitz, the latest chapter in a familiar tale.

Cummins first tempted an edge from Crawley to wicketkeeper Alex Carey on nine in the Australian skipper's first Test since July after lower back issues.

- Lyon strikes -

Then in a stroke of genius, he brought on spin king Nathan Lyon, who was controversially left out for the pink-ball second Test at the Gabba.

Lyon grabbed two wickets in a sensational opening over with a hapless Ollie Pope (3) flicking to Josh Inglis at midwicket before he bowled Duckett for 29.

Root was fortunate to survive in the next over when he edged Scott Boland to Carey.

But the ball was adjudged to have hit the turf before it settled in the wicketkeeper's gloves after the fourth umpire studied countless replays.

England's most experienced player failed to capitalise and was gone in the third over after lunch to a pumped-up Cummins, with Carey collecting another edge.

It was the 12th time Cummins has dismissed Root -- more than any other bowler.

With the Ashes on the line, Stokes needed to show what he called "a bit of dog" and he barely flinched when a Starc bouncer dangerously hit the back of his helmet.

He was given the all-clear and set about rescuing the innings before Cameron Green was introduced and Carey took another catch to remove Brook.

The hosts resumed at the start of the day 326-8 on the back of Carey's 106 and a gritty 82 from a rejuvenated Usman Khawaja, with Starc on 33 and Lyon yet to score.

Starc plundered five quick fours before being bowled by Jofra Archer for 54.

Lyon and Scott Boland then piled on the pain in a 23-run last-wicket stand before Lyon was trapped lbw for nine by Archer, who ended with 5-53.

Carey starred in an absorbing opening day with an emotional century on his home ground.

But it was shrouded in controversy over a Snicko technology error when he was on 72 and given not out.

England failed to have the decision overturned on review with replays showing a noise spike before the ball reached his bat.

After play ended, Carey conceded he likely edged the delivery from Josh Tongue that was caught behind and the technology operator admitted to an error.

D.Wang--ThChM