CRASH BANG WALLOPED

It's rain and suffering as Aussies seize control

- JEREMY CROSS

ENGLAND’S hopes of regaining the Ashes are in deep trouble following a damaging and potentially defining day at Lord’s.

A combination of a shocking batting collapse and another masterful knock from Usman Khawaja saw Australia build a commanding 221 lead with eight wickets still remaining.

Only the arrival of rain late on and bad light spared England further punishment.

Considering Brendon McCullum’s men no longer deal in draws, England look like having to chase down a monumental score to level the series at 1-1 and avoid going 2-0 down with three Ashes Tests remaining.

The bottom line is the Aussies have batted in the worst conditions in this match– and bossed it from the start.

And if England’s approach is more about entertaining the public than winning, then the folk watching Down Under must have been lapping this up.

Not least when Stuart Broad was left seething after captain Ben Stokes refused to review an lbw decision against Marnus Labuschagne in the final session.