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Stephen Smith (85* of 149), Travis Head (77 of 73) and David Warner (66 of 88) starred with the bat as Australia reached 339/5 through stumps on the first day of the second 2023 Ashes Test against England at Lord’s On Wednesday 28 June.
England won the toss and sent Australia to bat in overcast conditions on a pitch with adequate grass. However, they failed to take advantage of the conditions as the Australian batsmen played flexibly and also rode their luck.
visitors It got off to a strong start as the opener added 73. Warner started inauspiciously, knocking James Anderson through covers for four in the first over. There was some early, non-cricket-related drama, as some protesters invaded the proceedings. Jonny Bairstow picked one up and put it out of bounds!
Back in cricket, Usman Khawaja could have been dismissed in the fifth over, but Joe Root squandered a difficult chance after Anderson provided the edge with a full back delivery late on. After a rain break, Warner was also dropped at 20 as his opponent Stuart Broad again created an edge with those formed away after pitching at the channel. But Ole Pope on the fourth slip put up a very small chance.
Warner brought a much needed half-century in style, tying Josh Tonge (2/88) for six on deep square leg. However, it was the England player who made a breakthrough for the hosts at lunchtime. Khawaja (17 of 70) left a long ball out, but the hurler pulled back sharply to hit the stumps.
Tongue also ended Warner’s resistance in the second session. The England pacey bowler got a player ripping through the Australian left back defence, when the ball bounced sharply and hit the stumps. Familiar opponents Smith and Marnus Labuchan (47 for 93) thwarted England, adding 102 for the third wicket.
Both hitters were ruled out by the umpire on the field but decisions were overturned using DRS. In the 33rd minute, after slapping Broad for four straight catches, Smith was caught in the 24th over. However, replays clearly showed no advantage.
In England’s next over, Labuschagne hit him for three. Broad thought he had a 33-year-old man when he hit Labuschagny on the hind leg with a spiked one backwards. However, the Australian batsman also got an lbw decision that was overturned.
Next over, in the 42nd innings, Smith reached 9,000 Test runs by moving Ben Stokes for a bound. Australia went to tea on the first day at 2:190. It needed an Ole Robinson brute to end Labuschagen’s resistance. The England setter got one to nibble away from the seam and found the edge.
England ache as Australia hits the gas pedal
There was no relief for England after Labuschagny’s exit as Head came in and batted in a “baseball” fashion. He began his innings by depositing a loose ball from Robinson through a boundary cover spot.
Head kept breaking boundaries with ease even as Smith worked his way to another grueling half-century. The left-hander himself brought up a 48-ball 50 by pulling the tongue into the deep square leg boundary. Smith also joined in the fun as the pair brought up an entertaining century off just 104 balls.
In front of the playing path, Head was at a loss. He was looking to take on Joe Root, but was completely hit on the fly and turned around by the part-time spinner. The adventurous hitting of the Australian had 14 four strikeouts.
Root made it two over as Cameron Green (0) chipped a short delivery towards the halfway point. Double strikes gave England something to cheer on a disappointing day.
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