England’s Jos Buttler is bowled by Australia’s Nathan Lyon.Paul Childs/Reuters
England's players seem to be in a hurry to get their hands on the urn.
In the latest batting collapse of a wildly unpredictable Ashes series, Australia reduced England to 107-8 by stumps on the second day of the fifth Test to close in on a consolation victory Friday.
Given a first-innings total of 481 to chase after Steven Smith's 143, the English lost captain Alastair Cook (22) to the last ball before tea and then slumped from 46-1 to 92-8 in just 23 overs in the evening session.
All-rounder Mitchell Marsh took 3-18 and Peter Siddle's first bowl of the series returned the paceman figures of 2-18.
England still trailed by 374 runs – with Moeen Ali and Mark Wood both undefeated on eight – and Australia almost certainly having to decide Saturday whether to enforce the follow-on.
"We have had a very poor day," England bowler Steven Finn said. "They have showed us how to bowl on this wicket. It's not a 107-8 pitch."
England has an insurmountable 3-1 lead in the series and is sure to be lifting the little urn at the end of this Test. But the celebrations would be slightly muted if Australia can wrap up a big win.
None of the first four Tests reached Day 5 and the fifth match looks like it is following suit after a day when 15 wickets fell.