England in need of an Ashes miracle to avoid going 2-0 down in series after nightmare final session
BRISBANE: As Ollie Pope wondered how his bat slipped out of his hands, England's camp watched on with the Ashes slipping away.
Pope's position in the side is under pressure and his scratchy innings did nothing to settle concerns.
The No.3 couldn't find any rhythm on day three at the Gabba and eventually scooped a ball back to the bowler, Michael Neser. Pope couldn't control the bat in his hand and looked at it in surprise after Neser's quick reflexes.
AS IT HAPPENED: The Ashes second Test, day three
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"No doubt he's got work to do with his bat swing ... It's just not right," Simon Katich said on SEN.
Michael Neser throws the ball in the air after catching Ollie Pope. Getty
Michael Vaughan said on Fox Cricket "it's so predictable".
"You just know [a wicket] is going to come because it's high risk," he said.
Pope has scored 46, 33, 0 and 26 across the two Tests, and while it doesn't suggest a nightmare form slump, the 27-year-old came in as the man under the most pressure.
Mark Waugh described him as "just a player" on Triple M during the second Test, while Ian Chappell said he's "skittish" before the series started.
Pope averages 18.71 against Australia from seven matches.
The other man for England who has faced similar scrutiny is Zak Crawley.
He was gone caught and bowled next by the same man Neser.
Crawley departed for 44 with England 3-97 after Ben Duckett was bowled earlier for 15.
Australia celebrates a wicket. Getty
England started its innings trailing by 177 after Australia was bowled out for 511 thanks to Mitchell Starc's 77.
The worst part for England was the fact Australia's innings went into the second session, particularly since Jofra Archer had arrived with a pillow at the ground.
"Shocking look," Matthew Hayden said on Seven.
Archer wouldn't have had any time to snooze during England's second innings, with wickets constantly falling.
After Crawley departed, Joe Root was next when he was given out on review, caught behind for 15.
Harry Brook (15) was the next victim, caught by Alex Carey off Scott Boland.
Scott Boland dismisses Harry Brook. Getty
Jamie Smith followed that with a horrendous review. The wicketkeeper-batter was given out caught behind off Starc's bowling but sent it upstairs with ultra edge revealing he'd hit it.
Smith had been sucker-punched by the oldest trick in the book with Australia deploying three men for the pull shot, but Starc went full and Smith did the rest.
That dismissal left England at 6-128.
"This is not even Australia's strongest XI," Katich pointed out after that wicket.
England finished the day at 6-134 trailing by 43 runs. Both Will Jacks and Ben Stokes are on 4.
