Australia posted an impressive first innings total of 566-8 declared in the second Ashes test at lord’s on Friday and then ripped through the top order, reducing England to 30-4 at one stage.
Alastair Cook and Ben Stokes led a modest recovery, guiding England to 85-4 at the close of the second day but leaving the home team with a mountain to climb to save the match. Stokes gained in confidence to reach 38 by the close, with captain and opener Cook on 21. Bowling as if desperate for revenge after an embarrassing 169-run defeat in the first test in Cardiff, the Australian bowlers tore into the England batting.
The lord’s wicket was criticized as placid for the first two days as Australia accumulated a big score. England’s top order found it anything but easy-going as the top four were blown away.
Opener Adam lyth lasted two balls until he wafted lazily at a Starc ball, Gary Ballance accumulated a lucky 23 before Johnson bowled him, exposing a total lack of footwork, Ian Bell was out second ball missing a Hazlewood fast ball and in-form batsman Joe Root managed just one run before he played a shot at Johnson and was caught by Nevill.
Earlier, a career-best double century from Steve Smith powered Australia into a commanding position. Australia declared after playing just one over of the evening session, giving the tourists’ bowlers a chance to attack England.
Brief Scores
Aus: 566/8(Smith 215, Rogers 173; Broad 4/83, Root 2/55) lead England: 85/4(Johnson 2/16) by 481 runs.
‘pitch unfair to bowlers’
Ricky Ponting said “the balance between bat versus ball was nowhere near what it needs to be for a Test match” after watching Australia pile up 337 for one on the first day of the second Test against England at lord’s.
It has been suggested that grounds men have been told to prepare deliberately flat pitches in order to neuter Ashes-holders Australia’s pace attack.
However, former Australia captain Ponting said Thursday’s pitch at lord’s was in marked contrast to the ‘good cricket wicket’ for the first Test between England and New Zealand at lord’s in May, a surface praised for providing an even contest between bat and ball.
“It’s a very, very different pitch than what we saw against New Zealand so that’s a bit of a worry to me,” Ponting told the ESPNcricinfo website.