Ashes 2023 | Twitter reacts as Lord’s Test in balance after Day 2 following England’s fightback

Resuming Day 2 on 339/5, Australia lost a hefty blow inside the second over of the day when Alex Carey fell to Stuart Broad following a successful DRS. Mitchell Starc departed three overs later, nicking James Anderson behind to Jonny Bairstow after lasting 10 deliveries. However, Steve Smith was unmoved despite wickets’ falling from the other end, as the ace batter reached the three-digit mark – his 32nd in the format – while reviving the innings alongside skipper Pat Cummins.

A useful 35-run partnership between Smith and Cummins helped Australia to get close to 400 before Josh Tongue, who bowled Usman Khawaja and David Warner yesterday, removed the dangerous Smith for 110. Australia could only muster 23 runs for his last three wickets and finished their innings on 416. Barring James Anderson and Root, all English bowlers conceded more than four runs an over.

In reply, England were off to a solid start, courtesy of a solid 91-run opening wicket stand between Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett. It was England’s highest first-wicket partnership in the Ashes since 2013 before Nathan Lyon gave Australia the much-required breakthrough by sending Crawley packing for 48. Duckett kept the momentum going alongside Ollie Pope, taking the scoreboard to 188/1 before they lost three wickets for the next 34 runs. However, Ben Stokes and Harry Brook did not let the game slip away and finished the day with an unbroken 56-run partnership to keep the game perfectly in balance.

Good one coming gain!

Hahaha! That's the beauty of Test Cricket!

He is born to do it!

:|

Very good day at office to both the teams!

Great one so far!

He's Steve Magnet!

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Easy boii!!!

He enjoys everything in cricket!