England reduce Australia to 230-8 in Sydney

England’s bowlers took a firm grip on the Ashes series by reducing Australia to 230-8 at lunch on the second day of the fifth and final test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday.

The tourists have already retained the Ashes courtesy of their innings and 157-run victory in Melbourne last week but Australia could still square the series at 2-2 with a victory this week.

England are determined to win an Ashes series in Australia for the first time in 24 years, however, and their bowlers put in yet another session of disciplined and accurate bowling to take control of the match.

Australian fast bowlers Mitchell Johnson (30 not out) and Ben Hilfenhaus (14 not out) were having some fun wagging the tail and had combined for 41 when lunch finally came after a session extended after Monday’s rain.

The Australians, who resumed on 134-4, contributed to their own demise with some poor shot selection as they have for much of the series.

Brad Haddin, elevated to number six in the batting order, departed for six runs 20 minutes into the morning after a wild slash at a James Anderson delivery took a big edge and Matt Prior claimed a simple catch behind the wicket.

Mike Hussey continued to defy the English attack as he has for much of the series but he went just before the new ball was taken, tricked into an inside edge onto his own stumps by an inswinger from Paul Collingwood for 33.

Anderson, who finished with 3-66, got the new ball swinging immediately and Steve Smith was the next to go for 18 with an ill-advised attempt at a big drive that took an edge and Collingwood snaffled up at third slip.

Peter Siddle made two runs but lasted just four balls before getting an outside edge to another Anderson outswinger and England skipper Andrew Strauss did the honours in the slips.