Ashes 2025-26: Pat Cummins' seamless return rattles England despite Ben Stokes' defiance in Adelaide

Pat Cummins announced his return with the ease of someone who had always been there as he led England's demolition on day two of the ongoing Adelaide Test despite Ben Stokes' resilience.

The day began with another half-century for Mitchell Starc as he and Nathan Lyon added 22 more runs to Australia's overnight score of 326. Jofra Archer put an end to Starc's 54-run knock, but Lyon and Scott Boland kept frustrating the English bowlers with their hard-nosed approach. Archer came back to claim a five-wicket haul by trapping Lyon (9) in front of the stumps as Australia posted 371 on the board.

England's underwhelming tour with the willow continued as their batters failed to endure the unrelenting pressure applied by Australia's bowling attack. Cummins began the proceedings with the ball as he nicked off Zak Crawley (9). Lyon chipped in and outfoxed Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope to prove his mettle yet again following his snub in the pink-ball Test at the Gabba.

England slumped further as their premier batter Joe Root couldn't manage to rescue the tourists from the abyss. Cummins forced Root into playing a delivery that could have been left alone and dismissed him for the 12th time in Test cricket.

Harry Brook and Stokes stabilised the innings to an extent, adding 56 runs for the fifth wicket. Brook had pledged to rein himself in and kept his words, biding his time and relying more on rotation of strike rather than going hell for leather. He fell five short of his fifty as Cameron Green squared him up with a gem of a delivery. Wicketkeeper Jamie Smith also got a start (22), but it was Cummins again who got the better of him.

England lost two more wickets in the form of Will Jacks and Brydon Carse before a 45-run stand between Jofra Archer and Stokes (45*) took England to 213 for the loss of eight wickets at stumps.