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29 March 2024

2nd Ashes Test ENG v AUS Day 2: Australia hit back after Swann sparks collapse at Lord's

Published
By Cricket Correspondent with Agencies

Australia collapsed for 128 against some aggressive off-spin bowling from Graeme Swann on Friday to concede a first-innings deficit of 233 on the second day of the first Ashes Test against England at Lord's.

After reaching 42 for without loss just before lunch in reply to England's 361 all out, the Australians capitulated shortly after tea.

Peter Siddle showed, though, that Australia were not going to go down without a fight, steaming in from the Pavilion end to dismiss captain Alastair Cook (8), Jonathan Trott (0) and Kevin Pietersen (5) as the shadows lengthened on another glorious, sun-drenched day.

At the close England were 31 for three, an overall lead of 264, against a side whose top-order batting also failed twice in the 14-run first-Test loss at Trent Bridge.

With Swann already getting significant turn out of the bowlers' footmarks against a batting lineup including five left-handers, Australia have a huge battle on their hands to avoid going two down in the five-match series.

Swann's figures of five for 44 from 21.3 overs made him only the second England spinner to take five wickets in an innings in an Ashes Test at Lord's.

Yorkshire left-armer Hedley Verity, who died in World War Two, took seven for 61 and eight for 43 on a rain-affected pitch in 1934. The match was the only Ashes Test at Lord's which England won in the 20th century.

Well as Swann bowled for his 16th five-wicket haul in 54 Tests, the Australians were largely to blame for their dismal performance.

Shane Watson once again flattered only to deceive, hitting six confident boundaries to reach 30 when he was lbw planting his left pad down the pitch to Tim Bresnan. He reviewed the decision but the replay showed the ball was heading for the stumps.

His opening partner Ed Rogers (15) appeared to lose sight of a Swann full toss and was also given out lbw. Rogers did not ask for a review only to see that the television replay revealed that the ball, delivered from around the wicket, was travelling across his body and would have missed the leg-stump.

CLARKE TRAPPED

Phillip Hughes (1) played a loose drive to Bresnan and was given out caught behind by Matt Prior. He did ask for a review, which upheld the original decision and meant Australia had already lost their two referrals.

Usman Khawaja, coming in for the out-of-form Ed Cowan, was no improvement, lofting a weak shot off Swann to Pietersen at mid-off and departing for 14. He had already survived a simple chance to Trott at slip off Swann when he won on seven.

Steve Smith was the next to go, caught at short-leg for two by Ian Bell off Swann. Worse was to come for Australia when captain Michael Clarke, their only world-class player, was lbw to Stuart Broad for 28, caught on the crease by a full-pitched delivery.

Ashton Agar was then run out for two, backing up too far when Brad Haddin had been forced on to the back foot by James Anderson. Prior quickly seized the ball and threw it back to the bowler who broke the stumps.

Earlier, Ryan Harris confirmed the fine impression he had made during Thursday's opening day after England had resumed on 289 for seven by dismissing Bresnan (7) caught behind off the first ball of the day.

Harris then completed his third five-wicket haul in test cricket when Anderson (12) was also caught behind by Haddin.

Broad and Swann, the latter batting in the unaccustomed position of number 11 after Anderson was promoted to nightwatchman on Thursday evening, took England past the 350 mark with a spirited last-wicket partnership of 48 from 40 balls.

It was ended when James Pattinson took his first wicket of the match by dismissing Broad for 33 thanks to a fifth catch of the innings by Haddin.

"Losing a wicket first ball wasn't ideal but I think we bounced back and bowling Australia out for 130, or whatever it was, we'd have bitten anyone's hand off if offered that," Swann told Sky television.

"I felt I bowled well last week, I didn't feel I bowled as well here but I'm pragmatic enough to know I'll take a five-for whenever they come. The plans for us will be to score as many as possible tomorrow and then have two days bowling on a dry pitch."

EVENING SESSION

An eventful second day comes to an end with England holding the edge over Australia. The hosts lead Australia by 264 runs and are batting at 31-3 in the second innings. Peter Siddle took all the three for Australia.

Earlier in the day, a late partnership from Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann gave England 361 in the first innings.

England bowlers did a commendable job to bundle out Australia for a meagre 128 in the first innings with Swann taking five wickets.

No run again. England 30-3 in 19 overs.

England's score stranded at 30. Australia bowlers doing a good job here. Eng 30-3 in 18 overs.

That's another maiden from Siddle. England don't want to lose any more wickets. Eng 30-3 in 17 overs.

A maiden over. Eng 30-3 in 16 overs.

K Pietersen c Rogers b Siddle 5 (11b 1x4 0x6)

A poor shot from Pieterson. Siddle is bowling an amazing spell. Eng 30-3 in 14.5 overs.

Pieterson gets fine boundary. England lead by 260. Eng 27-2 in 14 overs.

Brilliant bowling from Siddle. England batsmen finding it hard to tackle him. Eng 23-2 in 13 overs.

J Trott b Siddle 0 (6b 0x4 0x6)

Siddle picks up another wicket. Trott played on. Eng 22-2 in 12.2 overs.

Wicket maiden for Siddle.  Australia need more of those wickets. Eng 22-1 in 11 overs.

A Cook b Siddle 8 (28b 0x4 0x6)

Australia get the a breakthrough. Cook played on and Siddle is celebrating. Eng 22-1 in 10.2 overs.

One run from that over. Pattinson is getting the ball to move away but is failing to bowl at the right areas. Eng 22-0 in 10 overs.

It's another maiden. Siddle this time. Eng 21-0 in 9 overs.

Another maiden over from Watson. Eng 21-0 in 8 overs.

Eng 21-0 in 7 overs.

Steady start from openers. Eng 19-0 in 5 overs.

Watson is furious. A regulation catch behind the stumps dropped. Eng 18-0 in 4 overs.

Confident start for openers. Eng 9-0 in 2 overs.

England decide to bat again. They lead by 233. Cook and Root in the middle. Eng 4-0 in 1 over.

AUSTRALIA Ist INNINGS

Graeme Swann bagged five wickets as Australia collapsed to a meager 128 in 53.3 overs in the first innings in reply to England’s strong 361. England now lead by 233 runs.

A boundary off the last ball. Aus 128-9 in 53 overs.

Swann misses an easy catch off his bowling. Australian last pair survive. Aus 124-9 in 52 overs.

Partnership is 16 runs from the last wicket. They still need 42 to avoid a follow-on. Aus 120-9 in 51 overs.

Harris's boundary takes Australia to 118-9 in 50 overs.

Last pair holding on the middle. Aus 112-9 in 47 overs.

B Haddin c Trott b Swann 7 (42b 1x4 0x6)

Australia fast collapsing. Haddin going for a big one off Swann but gets an edge to slip. Aus 104-9 in 45.4 overs.

P Siddle c Swann b Anderson 2 (24b 0x4 0x6)

England strike again. Siddle departs. Aus 104-8 in 44.4 overs.

A rare boundary for Australia from Haddin brings up the 100. Aus 103-7 in 44 overs.

Maiden over from Anderson. Aus 97-7 in 43 overs.

Swann gives a single in his first over after tea. Aus 97-7 in 42 overs.

At tea, England clearly holding the upperhand. They have been outstanding on the field. Australia have been messy losing wickets like a pack of cards as they totter at 96 for seven in 41 overs.

Graeme Swann has been the key claiming three wickets while Tim Bresnan took two.

AFTERNOON SESSION

Aggressive off-spin bowling from Graeme Swann and indifferent Australian batting allowed England to seize control of the second Ashes Test at Lord's on Friday.

At tea on the second day, Australia had struggled to 96 for seven in reply to England's 361 all out with each of the Australian batsmen contributing to their dismissals.

Shane Watson once again flattered to deceive, hitting six confident boundaries to reach 30 when he was lbw planting his left pad down the pitch to Tim Bresnan. He reviewed the decision but the replay showed the ball was heading for the stumps.

His opening partner Ed Rogers (15) appeared to lose sight of a Swann full toss and was also given out lbw. Rogers did not ask for a review only to see that the television replay revealed that the ball, delivered from around the wicket, was travelling across his body and would have missed the leg-stump.

Phillip Hughes (1) played a loose drive to Bresnan and was given out caught behind by Matt Prior. He did ask for a review, which upheld the original decision and meant Australia had already lost their two referrals.

Usman Khawaja, coming in for the out-of-form Ed Cowan, was no improvement, lofting a weak shot off Swann to Kevin Pietersen at mid-off and departing for 14.

Steve Smith was the next to go, caught at short-leg for two by Ian Bell off Swann. Worse was to come for Australia when captain Michael Clarke, their only world class player, was lbw to Stuart Broad for 28, caught on the crease by a full-pitched delivery.

Ashton Agar was then run out for two, backing up too far when Brad Haddin had been forced on to the back foot by James Anderson. Prior quickly seized the ball and threw it back to the bowler who broke the stumps.

Earlier, Ryan Harris confirmed the fine impression he had made during Thursday's opening day after England had resumed on 289 for seven by dismissing Bresnan (7) caught behind off the first ball of the day.

Harris then completed his third five wicket haul in test cricket when Anderson (12) was also caught behind by Haddin.

Broad and Swann, the latter batting in the unaccustomed position of number 11 after Anderson was promoted to nightwatchman on Thursday evening, took England past the 350 mark with a spirited last wicket partnership of 48 from 40 balls.

It was ended when James Pattinson took his first wicket of the match by dismissing Broad for 33 thanks to a fifth catch of the innings by Haddin.

A maiden over from Swann. Aus 96-7 in 40 overs.

A Agar run out 2 (21b 0x4 0x6)

Terrible mess up and Agar is run out. Australia look to be in deep trouble. They still are 265 runs behind. Aus 96-7 in 39 overs.

Agar finally gets his first runs in the 17th delivery he played. Aus 96-6 in 38 overs.

Anderson gets a maiden this time. Australia's run flow has come to a standstill. Aus 94-6 in 37 overs.

One run and Agar is still not opened his score. Aus 94-6 in 36 overs.

Yet another maiden over. Broad bowling tight spells. Aus 93-6 in 35 overs.

Another maiden over. Aus 93-6 in 34 overs.

Agar yet to open his account. Can he play another magical innings? Maiden over from Broad. Aus 93-6 in 33 overs.

The rest of the Australian batsmen will look to bring some respectability to the total. Aus 93-6 in 32 overs.

M Clarke lbw b Broad 28 (41b 4x4 0x6)

Big wicket for England. Clarke was looking good but Broad bowls a beauty to trap him in front. Australia collapsing here. Aus 91-6 in 31 overs.

D Smith c Bell b Swann 2 (14b 0x4 0x6)

Nothing going Australia's way. Great catch by Bell at the short of Swann bowling. Aus 86-5 in 29.5 overs.

Clarke is on 23. Aus 85-4 in 29 overs.

Two runs and Australia reach 81-4 in 28 overs.

Poor fielding from Bresnan and Clarke gets a four. Aus 79-4 in 27 overs.

Fine boundary from Clarke through covers. Aus 74-4 in 26 overs.

Broad gets a maiden over. Aus 69-4 in 25 overs.

Smith in. Good over from Swann. Aus 69-4 in 24 overs.

U Khawaja c Pietersen b Swann 14 (35b 1x4 0x6)

Khawaja plays an unwanted shot and holes one to KP at mid-off. Australia is deep trouble here. Aus 69-4 in 23.5 overs

Khawaja, Clarke adopting a cautious approach. They cannot afford to lose more wickets. Aus 68-3 in 23 overs.

A boundary from Khawaja. Aus 67-3 in 22 overs.

Australia get seven runs from the over. A lot will depend on skipper Clarke. Aus 61-3 in 21 overs.

Australia need a partnership here. Aus 54-3 in 20 overs.

P Hughes c Prior b Bresnan 1 (8b 0x4 0x6)

Australia in trouble here. Philip Hughes is out after the review goes against him. Australia have lost both their reviews. Aus 53-3 in 19 overs.

Maiden over from Swann. Aus 53-2 in 18 overs.

One run from the over. Aus 53-2 in 17 overs.

England strike immediately after lunch. Aus 52-2 in 16 overs.

C Rogers lbw b Swann 15 (45b 0x4 0x6)

Rogers loses his wicket attempting a whacky shot off a full toss of Swann. Aus 50-2 in 15.2 overs. Unlucky there as the Hawk eye shows it would have missed the stumps.

Six runs and Australia reach 50 for 1 in 15 overs.

Swann bowls a tight over. It's a maiden. Aus 44-1 in 14 overs.

Usman Khawaja is in as play resumes.

England had a good first session of  the second day of the second Test with their last batting pair Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann sharing a crucial 49-run stand as they added another 72 runs to their overnight score of 289 to finish at 361 in  100.1 overs.

Australia’s Ryan Harris bagged two to claim five wickets.

The visitors  made a positive start with Shane Watson scoring in boundaries to reach a quick 40 but succumbed just before  lunch as Australia are 42 for 1 in 12.4 overs.

MORNING SESSION


Harris finished with five for 72 from 26 overs in an England first innings total of 361 all out after the home side had resumed on 289 for seven.

Stuart Broad (33) and Graeme Swann (28 not out) added 48 runs from 40 deliveries in a spirited last wicket stand on another glorious day before a packed crowd.

Harris, whose impressive test career has been hampered by a chronic knee injury, dismissed Tim Bresnan caught behind for seven with the first delivery of the day.

James Anderson (12) then survived a chance off Harris which flew between wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and Shane Watson at first slip to the boundary. The next ball went straight off the outside edge to Haddin.

Australia's hopes of finishing the England innings off quickly were thwarted by Broad and Swann, who had been demoted to number 11 after England used Anderson as a nightwatchman on Thursday evening.

Broad cracked Peter Siddle for four through wide long-on with a vicious pull shot. Swann hooked Harris off his eyebrows to the boundary then Broad lofted Siddle for six over the square-leg boundary.

The fun ended when Broad gave Haddin his fifth catch of the innings to hand James Pattinson his only wicket.

Swann did not take the field when Australia started their reply while he received a treatment after a blow on his right arm in the same place where he was hit in England's pre-Ashes warmup match against Essex. He returned to bowl one over before the interval.

Anderson, taking the new ball from the Pavilion end, beat Watson with a beautiful delivery which left the right-hander late off the pitch. The bowler and fielders appealed vociferously for a catch behind, which was rejected, and after consultation England decided against a review.

Watson got off the mark with a boundary through point and steadied his team's nerves with spanking off-drives off both Anderson and Broad to the boundary.

He unfurled another muscular cover drive off Bresnan for four then cut the pace bowler to the boundary.

However, yet again the powerful all-rounder failed to convert a good start into a substantial innings, falling lbw to Bresnan for 30 in the final over before lunch. His knock included six boundaries.

He also wasted one of his team's two reviews when the television replay showed the ball would have hit the stumps.

Big wicket before Australia go to lunch. Watson is gone. Aus 42-1 in 12.4 overs.

Aus 42-0 in 12 overs.

Watson looks in fine form. Dealing in boundaries as he reaches 29. Aus 37-0 in 11 overs.

Two fine boundaries from Watson. A good over for  Australia. Aus 25-0 in 9 overs.

Australia going slow at the moment. Aus 14-0 in 8 overs.

Three runs from the over. Aus 12-0 in 7 overs.

A boundary from Watson. Aus 9-0 in 6 overs.

Another maiden over from Anderson. Australian openers are very cautious here. Aus 5-0 in 5 overs.

Just one run. Aus 5-0 in 4 overs.

Australia open their score with a boundary from Watson.Aus 4-0 in 3 overs.

Another maiden over. This time it's Broad. Aus 0-0 in 2 over.

It's a maiden over. Australia yet to open their account. Aus-0-0 in 1 over.

Shane Watson and Chris Rogers look for a good start for Australia as the come to bat. Anderson bowls.

ENGLAND INNINGS

S Broad c Haddin b Pattinson 33 (29b 5x4 1x6)

A fine partnership comes to an end as Broad departs. It's a good total and Australia will have to get some good partnerships going to match it. Eng 361 all out in 100.1 overs.

The partnership reaches 48. It's the highest for the last wicket for England against Australia in Lord's. Eng 361-9 in 100 overs.

It's turning out to be a great partnership for England. Broad gets a boundary and a six. Eng 357-9 in 99 overs.

Swann goes one better than Broad. Smashes three boundaries as their partnership reaches 29. Eng 342-9 in 98 overs.

Broad playing a fine cameo. Two boundaries from the over. Eng 329-9 in 97 overs.

England's last pair hanging in there. Eng 321-9 in 96 overs.

Swann scores a boundary. Any run is welcome for England. Eng 318-9 in 95 overs.

So Australia just need another one to wrap up things. Eng 314-9 in 94  overs.

J Anderson c Haddin b Harris 12 (29b 2x4 0x6)

Harris gets his fifth wicket. Great bowling performance. Eng 313-9 in 93.3 overs.

Broad getting in those quick runs. Two boundaries from him. Eng 309-8 in 93 overs.

Broad gets a fine boundary as England achieve the 300-run mark.

Three runs from that over. England need just one run to reach 300. Eng 299-8 in 92 overs.

Anderson gets a boundary. Eng 296-8 in 91 overs.

Good over to start for Australia. Eng-290-8 in 90 overs.

T Bresnan c Haddin b Harris 7 (29b 1x4 0x6)

Early success for Australia as Bresnan departs. England 289-9 in 89.1 overs.

Australia will seek to mop up the tail as England resume on 289 for seven on day two of the second Ashes Test at Lord's on Friday.

Tim Bresnan, on 7, and night-watchman James Anderson, on 4, were the not out batsmen at close on a day the Australians had the best of, considering they lost the toss and had to bowl in hot, sunny conditions on a batsman-friendly pitch.

Steve Smith, once the butt of the England team's jokes, had the last laugh as Australia started and finished well in the second Ashes Test, newspapers said on Friday.

England, boosted by Ian Bell's third hundred in successive Ashes matches, fought back from an early collapse at Lord's on Thursday.

CLICK HERE FOR 2ND TEST DAY ONE REPORT

Yet just when it seemed England had regained control, part-time leg-spinner Smith took three wickets for 18 runs in six overs late in the day to reduce England to 289 for seven at stumps, having been in dire straits at 28 for three.

Australia's press made much of Smith's late contribution coming into the attack after the team's regular bowlers had failed to force home their early advantage.

"England teased Steve Smith during the last Ashes series about being in the Australian team for his jokes. But the home team wasn't laughing after Smith's raw leg spin caused a late flurry of wickets at Lord's," Fairfax Media's Chloe Saltau said.

"Smith succeeded where the regular bowlers failed, capturing three English scalps including that of Australia's nemesis, Ian Bell, as England collapsed from 4-271 to 7-289 at stumps."

Saltau said although leg-spin was Smith's second skill nowadays, he could still bamboozle with the ball and was a much-improved cricketer than when he last played against England as an unorthodox-looking batsman.

The Australian's Wayne Smith mused that "if a bowler not in Australia's original Ashes squad could star as a batsman in the Trent Bridge Test, why not an initially overlooked batsman as a bowler at Lord's?"

Australia looked down and out at 117 for nine in last week's Nottingham Test when left-arm spinner Ashton Agar, a late addition to the touring party, blitzed 98 in a world record last-wicket stand to put them momentarily in front.

"The situation was starting to look almost as dire for Australia at Lord's when, with England threatening to take the match by the scruff of the neck, Michael Clarke tossed the ball to Steve Smith, a specialist batsman who was also a selectorial afterthought," said The Australian writer.

"By the time Smith had finished, Australia was not only back in the game but, as at Trent Bridge, marginally in the lead, with England limping to stumps."

Seamer Ryan Harris also came in for praise, playing his first Test in more than a year after recovering most recently from shoulder surgery to claim 3-43 from 20 carefully managed overs.

"It was felt that if Australia could just get him there, his quality as a new ball bowler would work out," The Australian columnist Gideon Haigh wrote.

"If that meant a retinue of medicos travelling just behind him, in the fashion of a support crew in the Tour de France, then so be it. And so yesterday it proved."

The Melbourne Age's Greg Baum singled out Clarke's captaincy and shrewd bowling changes for Australia's successes.

"At first, Clarke was a King Midas. Everything he touched turned to wickets," Baum said.

"Displeased with James Pattinson's erring line with the new ball, he reassigned it after two overs to Shane Watson, who immediately trapped Alastair Cook. Three times Clarke's change of bowler would produce an immediate wicket."

The Daily Telegraph's Malcolm Conn added: "More inspired captaincy from Michael Clarke has dragged Australia back into the second Test."