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Day 4 was going to be make or break for Australia in this first Test at Cardiff.
All of the top order have to make runs this innings, but it only took 9 overs for Broad to make a breakthrough, Rogers nicking a climbing ball to the slip cordon.
Smith and Warner started with a solid partnership, putting on 78 together before Warner got caught in front and was dismissed by Ali for 52.
After Warner was given out LBW, the umpires called for lunch, ending an opening batting session much improved on Australia’s first innings, which isn’t saying much.
Another wicket fell on the other side of lunch, an out-swinging length ball from Broad being edged by Smith to the slips, ending Smith’s innings on 33.
This gave England a chance to pin down the two new batsmen, Voges and Clarke.
Five overs later Clarke was dismissed, edging a Broad half volley to Stokes at backward point, only making five runs.
At this stage Australia had lost three wickets for nine runs, and Watson really had to step up to the challenge if he wanted to retain his place in the side.
Voges went soon after, an outside edge from Mark Wood going through to the keeper.
Ali was brought on six overs later, making an immediate impact when Haddin took him on and edged it to Cook at silly midwicket, Haddin only making seven.
Watson’s woes continued, his issues with LBW again exploited relentlessly, with Mark Wood getting him out for 19.
Johnson and Starc made a stand against the English attack, putting on a 72-run partnership, before Starc fell, caught in the slips for 17.
Johnson fell next on 77, another outside edge carrying to Lyth at first slip, ending what was the best performance of the Australian second innings, a sorry thing to say considering what the Australian top order needed to do.
Hazlewood fell in the next over, going after Ali and skying it down to Joe Root at long off, ending Australia’s innings, all out for 242.
In an sight which is becoming increasingly common for the Australian Test side, it was left to the lower order to try to resurrect their hopes in the match, only this time it wasn’t enough.
Johnson was the pick of the batsmen with his 77, the highest score in Australia’s second run chase, and second highest score for Australia overall this match.
There are serious questions which need to be asked about this top order.
By themselves, none of the batsmen in this Australian side are bad.
They’re world-class, but it seems there’s an issue when they come together which causes them to fall apart at the seams.
Normally, one or two people have managed to rise above the collapses and set Australia back on course, but it wasn’t the case this match and England seized on the opportunity.
Then there’s the issue of Shane Watson, a man who’s career keeps getting too many chances.
His batting performances have been stale for the past few years, his last century being at the WACA in December 2013, and only managing to score more than 50 on three occasions since then.
His bowling performances have been what has kept him in the side, but with Mitch Marsh knocking on the door, it seems like it’s time for a change.
Hopefully the Australian team and staff take a lot of lessons from this mediocre performance, and can represent Australia in a much better light than they did in Cardiff.
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