3rd Ashes Test Highlights: Australia on top as England close Day 2 at 31-4

Australia vs England, 3rd Ashes Test Day 2 Highlights: Australia inch close to yet another commanding win over Joe Root's England after close of play on Day 2. Follow the highlights of AUS vs ENG.

Australia vs England, 3rd Ashes Test Day 2 Highlights: Day 2 of the third Ashes Test between Australia and England in Melbourne saw a delay after a series of Covid-19 cases emerged in the England bio-bubble. The hosts, who resumed the action from their overnight score of 61-1, started on backfoot and kept losing wickets on regular intervals. However, some solid batting by opener Marcus Harris, who scored 76, helped Australia reach 267 and gave them a healthy 82-run lead in their first innings. In response, England got off to a shaky start and soon were reduced to 22-4, courtsey to some brilliant bowling by Mitchell Starc and debutant Scott Boland. The duo scalped two wickets each as England ended play at 31-4 and are trailing by 51 runs. Earlier on Day 1, the visitors were bundled out for 185 in their first innings. England currently trail the best-of-five series 2-0 and now face an uphill task to keep this Ashes alive.

Australia vs England, 3rd Ashes Test Day 2 Highlights: Marcus Harris scored 76 in Australia's first innings (Getty Images)

Here are the playing XIs:

Australia: David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland.

England: Zak Crawley, Haseeb Hameed, Dawid Malan, Joe Root (c), Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wk), Ollie Robinson, Mark Wood, Jack Leach, Jimmy Anderson