Stokes finished with figures of 5-35 off 16 overs
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England are on the brink of reclaiming the Ashes after all-rounder Ben Stokes sliced through Australia’s batting line-up with a five-wicket haul.
However, Australia left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc deserves some credit as he took a career-best six wickets.
Starting out the day on 274/4, Joe Root was only able to add six runs onto his overnight score of 124 before he was caught behind off the bowling of Starc.
Root’s superb innings of 130 came off 176 balls and included 19 boundaries and a six.
Following Root’s dismissal, none of England’s other middle order batsmen were able to have much of an impact. However, just when it looked as if they were on the verge of collapsing, all-rounder Moeen Ali and pace bowler Stuart Broad scored 38 and 24 not out.
Just a short while after Ali was dismissed, England captain Alastair Cook decided to declare with his side on 391/9, which gave them a 331-run lead.
Starc was the pick of the bowlers with six wickets, while Josh Hazlewood snapped up two and Mitchell Johnson chipped in with one.
Starc finished with career-best figures of 6-111 off 27 overs
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Trailing by 331 runs, Australia got off to a magnificent start as David Warner and Chris Rogers amassed a 113-run partnership, during which Rogers brought up his half-century, before he was caught by Root at third slip off the bowling of Stokes.
Rogers’ solid knock of 52 came off 83 balls and included 10 boundaries.
Rogers raises his bat after scoring his half-century
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Warner ended up making 64 off 74 deliveries, which included nine boundaries and two sixes, before he was caught by Broad at mid-on off the bowling of Stokes.
Warner made a gutsy 64
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Once Warner was dismissed, the domino effect came into play as Australia’s middle order, with the exception of Adam Voges, began falling one after another.
Australia were eventually left reeling at 236/7 before Voges and Starc put together a five-run partnership before bad light brought play to an end for the day.
Voges finished on 48 off 91 balls, which included seven boundaries, while Starc has yet to get off the mark.
Stokes was the most successful bowler with five wickets, while Broad and Mark Wood claimed one wicket each.
Australia ended day two on 241/7 and will continue batting tomorrow at 11:00 local time or 10:00 GMT.