Australia opener Marcus Harris was furious with the Hot Spot technology after surviving a close LBW on Day 2 of the Boxing Day Test against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Harris was adjudged LBW by on-field umpire Paul Reiffel after being struck on the pads by a Ben Stokes delivery when he was batting on 36. The left-handed batter immediately signalled for the Decision Review System (DRS) but the Hot Spot showed no marks as the ball went past the bat.

It was only when the Snicko confirmed an inside-edge that the decision was overturned and Harris survived in the first session on Monday. The 29-year-old was later heard n the stump mic, telling Ben Stokes that he got a big inside-edge and even abused the Hot Spot in frustration.

BOXING DAY TEST: Day 2 Highlights | Report

“I wasn’t like 100 percent sure, but I had a big mark on my bat. I thought it might have clipped both pads and maybe a little inside edge.

“Hot Spot’s f***ing hopeless,” Harris told Stokes.

Marcus Harris telling it how it is #Ashes pic.twitter.com/W73KLAbZyc

— Dean Messiter (@truck1984) December 27, 2021

Harris top-scored with 76, his second highest Test score and third half-century in the format, before James Anderson got him caught at first slip. Australia added 206 runs to their overnight total after resuming on 61 for no loss to take a first innings lead of 82 runs.

Aussie pacemen then triggered another England collapse to reduce the them to 31 for 4 by stumps on Day 2.

Mitchell Starc came within a whisker of a hat-trick and debutant quick Scott Boland grabbed another two wickets to leave England reeling. Joe Root was 12 not out and Ben Stokes was on two, both left with an improbable rescue mission with the visitors still 51 behind the hosts in their second innings.

Holders Australia, who lead the five-match series 2-0 after wins in Brisbane and Adelaide, need only draw the match to retain the urn but appear set to head to Sydney for the fourth Test with another one-sided victory.