The Ashes Round-up: Marsh leads Australia into winning position

Shaun Marsh scored just a second century on home soil as Australia dominated England on day two of the Adelaide Ashes Test.

Marsh hit an unbeaten 126 from 231 deliveries, vindicating his surprise selection at number six, as England's attack ran out of ideas again.

Australia has its sights set on victory in Adelaide after Shaun Marsh's century capped a dominant second day of the day-night Ashes Test.

Marsh scored an unbeaten 126 in Australia's 442-8 declared , with England closing on 29-1, the damage perhaps limited by the last hour of play being lost to rain.
 

THE HEADLINES

- Shaun Marsh's fifth Test ton took the first innings away from England, Tim Paine (51) and Pat Cummins (Test-best 44) serving as able deputies.

- Marsh hit an unbeaten 126 from 231 deliveries, vindicating his surprise selection at number six, as England's attack ran out of ideas again.

- Mark Stoneman fell for 18, but England's top order was rescued from sterner examination by the weather.

MOMENT OF THE DAY

Marsh looked for all the world out on 29 when he was rapped on the pad by James Anderson. Umpire Chris Gaffaney agreed and raised his finger, but Marsh called for a review, which showed the ball was just sneaking over the stumps and the left-hander made the most of the reprieve.

OPTA FACTS

- Today was the third time in Ashes history that Australia declared after being sent in. Both previous occasions saw it score 601 and go on to win (601/8d, Brisbane, 1954-55; 601/7d, Leeds, 1989).

- Anderson had seven unsuccessful lbw appeals in the Australia innings. Nobody else had more than two.

- From the 12 England innings since the start of the 2015 Ashes series, Mitchell Starc has taken the first wicket seven times.

- Each of Australia's top seven has made at least one score of 35+ in the series.

REACTION

"It's an amazing feeling to bring up a hundred in an Ashes Test match,"  Marsh  told BT Sport. "There was a lot of emotion when I brought it up."

England coach  Trevor Bayliss  admitted that the rain arrived at an opportune time for England, saying: "It's not nice to bat under the lights so it's a bit of a bonus there for us. We look forward to tomorrow and hopefully batting big."

FROM ZEROES TO HEROES?

Alastair Cook and James Vince conspired to drop Marsh late in his innings but they are tasked with leading England's resistance on Monday afternoon.