It was another grueling day for fans of the England cricket team as a mixture of dreadful batting and sharp Australian bowling saw them struggle on day three of the second Ashes Test.
Resuming on 29 for one, experienced batters Alastair Cook and Joe Root threw away their wickets before two brilliant caught and bowled dismissals did for Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow.
Even if you bravely stayed up all night to catch the action, there may have been several things you missed from the Adelaide Oval. Sportsmail is here to cover for you…
It was another grueling day for England as Australia’s bowling attack rattled through them
Cook breaks into the top ten
The former England captain will be disappointed with the manner of his dismissal, but just before he went he managed to pass an impressive milestone.
Cook’s 36th run was enough to put him into the top 10 all-time England run scorers in Ashes tests, surpassing Kevin Pietersen.
Unfortunately, one run later and Cook was back in the pavilion, caught at slip for 37 following a poor jab shot.
![Alastair Cook's 36th run was enough to put him into the top 10 England scorers in Ashes tests](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/09/46F69CEB00000578-5142891-image-a-27_1512379823670.jpg)
Alastair Cook’s 36th run was enough to put him into the top 10 England scorers in Ashes tests
![Unfortunately, one run later and Cook was back in the pavilion, caught at slip for 37](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/08/46F587C900000578-5142891-image-a-15_1512375976758.jpg)
Unfortunately, one run later and Cook was back in the pavilion, caught at slip for 37
Another English top order failure
It is a problem that has now plagued England for years, and one that they still seem unable to find an answer to – poor starts.
England were reduced to 50 for three after James Vince and Root went cheaply on day three, and it was a case of deja vu for them.
Incredibly, it is the tenth time in 2017 that England have lost three or more wickets for less than 100 runs.
![England were reduced to 50 for three after James Vince and Root went cheaply on day three](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/09/46F55C7100000578-5142891-image-a-25_1512379816569.jpg)
England were reduced to 50 for three after James Vince and Root went cheaply on day three
![It is the tenth time in 2017 that England have lost three or more wickets for less than 100 runs](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/08/46F5718500000578-5142891-image-a-17_1512376008170.jpg)
It is the tenth time in 2017 that England have lost three or more wickets for less than 100 runs
Barbecue boats
We don’t wish to push national stereotypes here, but it is a truth universally acknowledged that the Aussies do love a barbecue.
What better way to watch cricket down under, therefore, than from a boat with its own barbecue, as a group were spotted doing in Adelaide.
While there was plenty of Victoria bitter on offer, the barbecue itself featured only beef and steaks – no shrimp, unfortunately.
![The cameras captured a few fans having a barbecue on a boat near the Adelaide Oval](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/08/46F6DC9E00000578-5142891-image-a-19_1512376019405.jpg)
The cameras captured a few fans having a barbecue on a boat near the Adelaide Oval
![Sadly for lovers of Australian stereotypes there were no shrimps on the barbie, only steaks](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/08/46F6DD0B00000578-5142891-image-a-18_1512376015782.jpg)
Sadly for lovers of Australian stereotypes there were no shrimps on the barbie, only steaks
Overton takes a peppering
As it was Craig Overton’s Test debut, the Australians went out their way to give him a special Ashes welcome.
England’s No 9 was immediately the victim of a barrage of short balls – the graphic below, of the first 26 deliveries he faced, shows the extent of the attack.
To Overton’s credit, he showed impressive resilience to fight off the short attack and top scored in England’s first innings, making a respectable and unbeaten 41.
![Craig Overton faced an incredible barrage of short bowling when he first came to the crease](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/08/46F6DD1200000578-5142891-image-a-20_1512376026779.jpg)
Craig Overton faced an incredible barrage of short bowling when he first came to the crease
![To Overton's credit, he showed impressive resilience to fight off the short attack](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/09/46F777EB00000578-5142891-image-a-29_1512379868011.jpg)
To Overton’s credit, he showed impressive resilience to fight off the short attack
Triple caught and bowled
Caught and bowled may not be the rarest form of cricketing dismissal but it is by no means the most common – to have one in an innings is a rarity.
However England not only lost three men in this fashion – Moeen, Bairstow and Chris Woakes – but they went as successive wickets.
The stattos on Test Match Special were immediately on the case, revealing Australia had not managed this feat in well over a century in Ashes cricket.
![England lost three successive wickets to caught and bowled, two taken by Mitchell Starc](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/09/46F72DB800000578-5142891-image-a-30_1512379914202.jpg)
England lost three successive wickets to caught and bowled, two taken by Mitchell Starc
![The stattos on Test Match Special were immediately on the case of this unusual record](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/08/46F732CE00000578-5142891-image-a-22_1512376058158.jpg)
The stattos on Test Match Special were immediately on the case of this unusual record
Why England will definitely win the series
When you concede a lead of over 200 runs after the first innings of a Test match – in a series where you team is already trailing – it may be time to start clutching at straws.
Woakes and Overton’s eighth wicket partnership of 66 was resilient, brave and just the sort of display to give the visitors hope that all is not yet lost.
England have always won any Ashes series in the past 40 years where they have had an eight wicket stand of 65 or over. May as well pop the champagne corks now.
![England fans were left clutching at straws after day three, including this particular stat](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/08/46F732C100000578-5142891-image-a-21_1512376045304.jpg)
England fans were left clutching at straws after day three, including this particular stat
Mitchell’s head for heights
One feature of the Adelaide Oval is the system of ladders and walkways which allow access to the roof. It takes a fair amount of bravery to go up there.
BT Sport presenter and commentator Alison Mitchell took the challenge, with the cameras following her as she got a birds-eye view of the action.
As the sun set on day three of this day-night Test, it made for a quite spectacular sight.
![BT Sport presenter and commentator Alison Mitchell on the roof of the Adelaide Oval](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/10/46F7AD7300000578-5142891-image-a-33_1512381955546.jpg)
BT Sport presenter and commentator Alison Mitchell on the roof of the Adelaide Oval
Stokes watches on
Ben Stokes’ absence from the Test series has been well documented, though, as revealed on Monday morning, he could return for the one-day series.
Stokes has been following the action closely however, and tweeted his support for James Anderson at the start of the third innings.
He will have been delighted with what he saw, as Anderson grabbed two wickets in a dangerous spell of swing bowling.
![Ben Stokes tweeted his support for England team mate James Anderson as he watched on](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/10/46F7DA3C00000578-5142891-image-a-35_1512383764484.jpg)
Ben Stokes tweeted his support for England team mate James Anderson as he watched on