Australia on the ropes, as England edges towards Ashes triumph

England need just three more wickets to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series as Australia closed day two on 241-7, still 90 runs behind.

Stokes’ five-for, his second in Tests following his six for 99 in Sydney, was the latest in a series of important contributions from the home dressing room.

Another Yorkshireman, Jonny Bairstow, contributed 74 during a fourth-wicket stand of 173.

A shaken Australian captain, Michael Clarke, who was so far fighting with his poor form, explained the first day of the fourth Ashes Test, where the visitors were bowled out for mere 60 runs, as one of the toughest he had ever faced in his captaincy tenure.

Australia’s woes with the bat meant that Starc wasn’t able to savour his wonderful bowling performance earlier in the day that saw him produce his career best figures in Tests.

Stuart Broad (right) took 8-15 as Australia were bowled out for 60. His doughty unbeaten 48 will give Australia some hope of at least making England bat again especially if their tailenders can amass some runs.

“We’re in an unbelievable position here”.

Stokes took benefit of beneficial circumstances in a spell of 3-sixteen off seven overs round tea that swung the recreation England’s approach after Australia openers Chris Rogers and David Warner had added 113 for the first wicket.

“I can’t complain. A personal achievement is always nice but it would have been nice to have been none down overnight and heading into day three in a better position”.

Warner, on 10, was badly dropped by Cook at first slip off Broad and Ian Bell spilled a harder chance off Stokes.

They are on the verge of surrendering the Ashes for the fourth consecutive time on foreign soil after going down 1-2 in the series with emphatic losses in Cardiff and Birmingham and conceding a 331-run first innings deficit here at Trent Bridge after being bowled out for 60 in the morning session of day one.

Only to Australian players crossed double figure in their first inning. I sense a similar feeling to what we had before the start of Lord’s (the Test Australia won by 405 runs).

Australia’s scoreboard of shame, along with a picture of their destroyer Stuart Broad expressing amazement at a catch taken by Ben Stokes. Then even after Stokes had Mitchell Johnson edging to slip, worsening light precluded any consideration of the extra half-hour.

Smith claimed prior to the series that England would “not come close” to an in-form Australia, and while one could argue the Baggy Greens have been well short of top gear the comment had not escaped Stokes’ notice.

When the umpires decided conditions were too gloomy, England was looking at a second successive win inside three days after its eight-wicket victory in the third Test at Edgbaston last week.

After Nevill fell, Stokes struck again when Mitchell Johnson (five) nicked a swinging ball to Cook.