Ashes, 2nd Test: Ben Duckett 98 highlights England’s improved show after Steve Smith century gives Australia 416

England came out with an improved showing with the ball, first and then with the bat as they proved their critics wrong on Day 2 of the 2nd Ashes Test against Australia at Lord’s.

England’s body language on the field was severely criticised on the opening day of the 2nd Test as Australia piled up the runs but England seamers came out all guns blazing to knock off the Australian batting unit quickly even as Steve Smith scripted history with another Ashes century at the Home of Cricket.

England headed to Stumps on 278 for 4, having scored at 4.56 runs per over on Day 2, still trailing Australia’s first innings total of 416 by 138 runs.

England did the hard work as their openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley survived the new ball with ease before increasing their scoring rate. Crawley looked set on a flat Lord’s pitch as he was tearing into the Australian attack. However, he threw his wicket away when he was out stumped by Nathan Lyon, who broke a 91-run opening partnership.

Duckett and Ollie Pope showed a lot of character as they combined for a 97-run stand for the 2nd wicket. Australia were not at their best with the ball and errors crept in as Cameron Green was struggling with front-foot no-balls.

Just when it looked like England were setting themselves a solid platform for a huge first innings total, they threw wickets away. England lost 3 wickets for just 34 runs at the start of the final session. Ollie Pope, Ben Duckett and Joe Root all fell to bouncers in quick succesion as Australia reaped the rewards for persisting with the short-ball tactic.

Ben Duckett fell for 98 while trying to hook Josh Hazlewood into the ropes and Joe Root was out for 10 while playing a mistimed pull shot against Mitchell Starc. Root was caught by Steve Smith as the England star failed to make use of an extra life as Cameron Green had overstepped when he was caught behind for 0.

However, Harry Brook and Ben Stokes calmed the England nerves with a steady 56-run unbeaten stand for the 5th wicket.

Australia are sweating over a calf injury scare to Nathan Lyon, who limped off the field in the final session. Cricket Australia confirmed that Lyon picked up a calf injury and it is likely that the off-spinner, who completed 100 successive Tests, might not take the field for the rest of the Test.

ENGLAND RESPOND TO CRITICISM

England were slammed for looking flat on the field as they allowed Australia to amass 339 for 5 on Day 1 after having lost a closely-fought first Test in Birmingham. Questions were asked about England not walking the talk after promising to double their aggression in the 2nd Test. Steve Smith and Travis Head made merry in the final session as England bowlers, especially Stuart Broad and James Anderson, struggled to pick up a wicket.

However, England showed good bouncebackability on Day 2 with Stuart Broad knocking off Alex Carey in the very second over of the day’s play. Steve Smith, who resumed on 85, completed his 32nd Test hundred and his love affair with Lord’s but the former captain was not able to hang around with the tail, getting caught at gully by Ben Duckett in Josh Tongue’s over.

Young Tongue was impressive in his first Ashes Test as he finished with figures of 3 for 98 while Ollie Robinson cleaned up the tail. There was not much resistance from the Australian tail as Pat Cummins ran out of partners, remaining unbeaten on 22.

James Anderson got his first wicket of the Test match on Day 2 when he got the wicket of Mitchell Starc, who was looking set to throw his bat at everything in search of quick runs.