The Ashes: Ollie Pope's 'chaotic' innings set tone for England latest batting failure in Adelaide, says Nasser Hussain

Ollie Pope's "chaotic" 10-ball stay at the crease set the tone for another England batting failure on day two of the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, says Sky Sports' Nasser Hussain.

Pope (3) was one of three England wickets to fall in the space of two-and-a-half overs prior to the lunch interval as, on a great batting track, the tourists slipped from 37-0 to 42-3.

Harry Brook made 45 and Ben Stokes is not out overnight on the same score - England 213-8, still trailing by 158 runs - as his side's Ashes hopes are left "hanging by a thread", according to Hussain.

"Pope's short stay at the crease again looked frenetic," Hussain said. "It's not just his lack of runs and the way he's getting out... it just sets a tone.

"What I want there from my number three is either to put pressure back on, like Ricky Ponting, Viv Richards, David Gower, or to be like Jonathan Trott and silence the moment, ease the dressing room and remind everyone it's still a very good pitch.

"He strikes me as someone who doesn't do that. He still looks a bit chaotic.

"From way outside off, he ends up chipping one to short midwicket and now you're 41-2 on a flat one which you're making to look like a bit of minefield."

Nathan Lyon also added the wicket of Ben Duckett (29) in his opening over to move him past Glenn McGrath and into second among Australia's all-time leading wicket-takers in Tests, his 564 second only Shane Warne's 708.

Brook led a brief counter in the afternoon session, while Stokes' dogged 151-ball stay at the crease, in which he suffered badly with cramp in the 40 degree heat, at least gives England some semblance of hope heading into the third morning - the captain and Jofra Archer (30no) sharing in an unbroken 45-run partnership through to stumps.

"It looks like the Ashes are slipping away after another difficult day," Hussain added.

"Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes' partnership right at the end of the day just shows how good a surface it is.

"England's top eight batters - with the exception of Stokes and probably Harry Brook - succumbed to the pressure of Australia's relentless attack.

"Australia's bowling has been outstanding and England couldn't live with them.

"England can't afford another bad day because their Ashes hopes are literally hanging by a thread. They're going to need a miracle."

The man to provide that miracle will likely have to be the skipper, with Stokes having previous for pulling out a match-winning performance from nowhere, particularly against Australia.