Athers on England's quick runs, Mason Crane's debut and more
Friday 5 January 2018 23:23, UK
A "madcap" morning session and Mason Crane's debut... Michael Atherton reflects on day two of the fifth Ashes Test at the SCG.
SCORECARD | ASHES 2017/18 HOMEPAGE
Watch Athers' video review above after Australia closed on 193-2 - Usman Khawaja unbeaten on 91 and Steve Smith 44 not out - to trail England by 153 runs.
The tourists added 113 runs for their final five wickets in the morning session before being bowled out - Tom Curran, Stuart Broad and Moeen Ali chipping in with thirties after Dawid Malan (62) had been dismissed.
Curran and Ali profited from dropped catches by Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood respectively as England scored 346, an "okay score" according to Sky Sports Cricket expert Atherton.
The former England captain says Joe Root was then right to hand debutant leg-spinner Mason Crane an early bowl to settle his nerves, and feels the 20-year-old showed good energy with the ball - after a half-tracker first delivery - as he found Khawaja and Smith's edges.
Smith stands in England's way again, though, and Athers says Root's men must target wickets on day three and not "retreat" as they did in the third Test in Perth, when Smith went on to score a double ton.
Head to skysports.com every day of the Ashes Tests for Athers' video reviews.
