England can do "something special" despite disastrous second day of third Ashes Test

NICK HOWSON AT HEADINGLEY: Graham Thorpe believes the hosts are not out of the game despite being dominated by Australia at Headingley

England batting coach Graham Thorpe has challenged the team to do the impossible and turn the Ashes series around against Australia at Headingley.

The tourists lead by 283 runs with four second-innings wickets left after a dominating display on the second day, which including bowling the hosts out for their lowest Ashes total since 1948.

That score of 67 was the fourth time England have failed to reach three figures in a Test since the start of 2018 and exposed old wounds in their batting line-up.

Australia, who lead the five-match series 1-0, only need to win one of the last three Tests to retain the urn.

Headingley has seen three of the 25 highest fourth innings scores to win a Test, including the 322 for 5 made by the West Indies as recently as August 2017.

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"It is tough to take in the dressing room when it happens," said Thorpe of the collapse. "They are 283 ahead but what I would say the game is not over. I've seen Test cricket put some strange endings. There have been scored chased down fourth innings of over 300 before. We're staying confident.

"I wouldn't say they are playing for their futures (when the chase starts). Sportspeople always have to be very optimistic when you have the opportunity still to do something. That's what we hope will present to us tomorrow.

"If we can keep them to 320, 330, a few of our lads if they put their hands up they can do something special. I always believe that is capable. We have to find more consistency going forward in Test cricket."

Captain Joe Root followed up his golden duck in the second innings at Lord's with a two-ball nought on day two to trigger an almighty collapse either side of lunch on day two.

^{Joe Root's average as captain has dipped into the 40s since his appointment as captain}

The Yorkshireman averages below 30 in his last 14 Tests as captain - he also dropped Marnus Labachagne before Australia closed on 171 for 6 - but Thorpe insists the duel responsibility is not affecting him.

"I see him with bags of energy," he added. "In terms of when he comes inherited does bags of work, bags of practice. Obviously, he has worked on his movement from Lord's to here. He got a very good ball today.

"Joe's delivery today was an absolute beauty, there is not much he could have done about that. As the Test match goes on a lot of pressure can go on to the captain. 

"He's got to get back out there, the team have been bowled out for 67, and captain the team. Naturally, that is going to take something out of you as well so it is up to us to support him."