The Ashes 2023: England v Australia, second Test, day three – as it happened

Australia blew away England’s lower order at Lord’s before extending their lead to 221 with eight wickets remaining

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“I’ve mellowed overnight on this, but I’m still a bit irked by that hour,” writes Guy Hornsby. “I think I can be on board with this brand of cricket, but not to the exclusion of all else surely? How many hooks are ok to a field feeding that plan, before it gets brainless? Surely you have to read the game too, as Stokes did when he came in? If we’ve learnt from it today and can bat positively and get past Australia then it could turn the series. Surely egos aren’t so fragile as to have to assert themselves in all scenarios? This team has been outstanding and breathless and inventive, and they are still learning. We’re all here for the ride, but if they take anything into today it’s that pressure can be applied in many different ways, and plans aren’t binary.”

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