The Ashes day five analysis and odds: Australia win day-night test to go 2-0 up

Latest analysis and odds for the 2021-22 Ashes between Australia and England.

Where to watch the third Test

Test starts 11.30pm Saturday (Christmas Day), live on BT Sport 1

Best prices for third Test
4-9 Australia, 4-1 England, 4-1 raw

Best Ashes series prices (Aus lead 2-0)
1-50 Australia, 66-1 England, 33-1 draw

Second Test scoreboard

Australia 473/9d (Labuschagne 103) & 239/9d (Head & Labuschagne 51) beat England 236 (Malan 80) & 192 by 275 runs

Story of day five

It was a case of too little, too late for England on the fifth day of the second Ashes Test in Adelaide as they fell to a crushing 275-run defeat and now trail 2-0 with three Tests still to play in the series.

The tourists resumed on 82/4, needing to bat out the rest of the contest to secure a draw, an eventuality which was priced at 14-1 following the close of play on day four.

But when stand-in captain Steve Smith caught Ollie Pope to reduce England to 86-5, it was clear which way the Test was heading.

Resilience from Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes saw England progress to 166-7 and they managed to make it to the final session with two wickets left and a slim chance of salvaging an unlikely draw.

Jos Buttler (26) played a key role in getting the tourists to that stage, the wicket-keeper surviving for 207 balls before he became England's first player to get out hit wicket since 2008.

James Anderson then fell less than four overs later, giving England an almighty mountain to climb to even draw the series as they prepare for the third Test in Melbourne.

Holders Australia need just to avoid three successive defeats in the final three Tests to retain their grip on the Ashes, for which they are now no bigger than 1-50. A drawn series is 33-1 and an unlikely England victory can be backed at 66-1.

The Third Test will begin at the MCG on December 26 (11.30pm Christmas Day in the UK & Ireland). Australia are 4-9 to claim the series with a victory, England are 11-2 and the draw is 4-1.

Star of the day

Losing Pat Cummins would have been a worry for Australia heading into the Adelaide Test but Jhye Richardson, more renowned for his performances in T20 cricket, stepped up to the plate.

The fast bowler made the key breakthroughs to win the Test for Australia, dismissing Buttler, Woakes and Anderson on the final day to finish the second innings with figures of 5-42.

Moment of the day

Not only was Buttler's hit wicket dismissal a rare sight but it was also the moment England's faint hopes of completing a fightback dissipated.

After facing more than 200 balls, Buttler ultimately got himself out, proving once again just how mentally intense and unrelenting an Ashes Test can be.

View from the camp

'You look at the second innings, that’s the attitude and the desire – that sort of mentality is how we’re going to have to go and play for the rest of this series, which we’re more than capable of doing.

'It’s frustrating because I know we’re good enough to do it and we’ve just not managed to do it so far.'

Joe Root, England captain & batsman

Not got a bet365 account? Bet £10 & get £50 in free bets

Open account offer. Minimum deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as bet credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Minimum odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude bet credits stake. Time limits/T&Cs apply. 18+ begambleaware.org

CLAIM OFFER HERE

MORE FREE BETS

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport