Ashes 2013: England on Brink of Defeat as Australia Run Riot

England are on the brink of defeat on the third day of the first Ashes Test in Brisbane.

England, batting in their second innings, trail Australia by 537 runs at the close of day three with Alastair Cook (11) and Kevin Pieterson (3) at the crease. Australia declared their second innings at 401 for seven wickets, giving England a target of 562.

In reply, England are already down two wickets with only 24 runs on the board and need a truly heroic performance to get anything out of this game with two days to go.

Michael Carberry and Jonathan Trott are the two batsmen already out, in what has been complete shambles from the England line-up.

Australia scored 295 runs in the first innings, in reply to which England were bundled out for 136, giving the hosts a lead of 159 runs. The hosts smelt blood and came out charging in the second innings with David Warner (124) and Michael Clarke (113) scoring centuries to take Australia to 401. Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson, the stars of the first innings, ended with a flourish to allow England two full days to see out the attack.

England's bowling attack left much to be desired with none of the bowlers coming close to providing a semblance of a fight. Chris Tremlett picked up three wickets while Stuart Broad had two in the second innings. With the Test more or less lost, the visitors have to learn from their mistakes and look forward to the second Test.