The Ashes 2023: Australia dominates over England in 5th Test (Day-2) Match Report (England vs Australia)

Day-2 of the England vs Australia’s fifth test of the Ashes 2023 saw the Aussies dominating the hosts as they put a total of 295/10 on the scoreboard in response to England’s 283/10. Smith’s crucial knock of 71 runs along with Khawaja’s 47 ensured the visitors’ dominance in the last test of the series. On the other side, England’s bowling attack seems to have failed in controlling the hosts from taking the lead of 67 runs by the end of the second day.

The Ashes 2023, 5th Test (Day-2): How Australia started off

The Aussies started off from where they left last day at 61/1 with Khawaja & Labuschagne on the crease. Both together built a 42-run partnership before Labuschagne was shown the way to pavillion on fast and bouncy delivery by Wood which got a slight edge on his bat directing the ball in the hands of Root who took a brilliant catch at the first slip. Following his departure, hardly a 24-run partnership was built between Khawaja & Smith at a score of 115 runs, when the former fell prey to Broad who got him leg before on a full length straight delivery. Khawaja departed for 47, thereby missing out his another fifty.

Now on the crease were Smith & Head, but their partnership also couldn’t last long as they could add just 12 runs to the total when at a score of 127 runs, Broad got another breakthrough by getting Head caught behind on a good length delivery. This brought the Aussies in big trouble as they lost their first four crucial wickets at a low price. Next came Mitchell Marsh from whom the team expected an anchor knock but to their disappointment, he found his way back to pavillion having scored just 16 runs when he got an inside edge on a good length delivery by Anderson, thereby hitting the ball onto the stumps.

The Ashes 2023, 5th Test (Day-2): Smith played the anchor role

On one side, Steve Smith played an anchor role by moving Australian innings ahead, whereas on the other end, new batters kept rushing off to the pavillion. The next one to rush off to the pavillion was Alex Carey, who at a score of 170 runs, played a slow and wide delivery by Root, towards short cover where he was caught by Stokes. At this moment, though Smith was still on the crease, reaching the 250 mark seemed quite difficult. Mitchell Starc, the new batter, also followed the foot steps of the previous batters when at a score of 185, he got caught by Duckett at backward square on a faster delivery by Wood.

This deepened the crisis for the Aussies as they were only left with three wickets including Smith & tail-end batters. From hereon, Smith was supported by Cummins and both took Australia to 200 mark and meanwhile Smith completed his fifty off 98 balls. Both added crucial 54 runs to Australia’s total when at a score of 239, finally Smith was hunted down by Woakes when he tried to play a slower short ball over mid-wicket but unfortunately got leading top edge leading to a simple caught by Bairstow.

Cummins & the new batter, Murphy played a significant role in securing the Aussies in the first innings as both added valuable 49 runs together to Australia’s total to take the visitors to a score of 288 runs before Murphy got leg before on a full length delivery by Woakes. He scored much required 34 runs which included two boundaries and three sixes. Soon after his departure, the Aussies’ skipper, Cummins remained the last one to depart after scoring 36 runs, taking Australia to a score of 295.

The Ashes 2023, 5th Test (Day-2): At Stumps

By the end of the day, Australia were all out at a score of 295, though they managed to take a marginal lead of 12 runs. England bowlers were accurate in their line, length and pace and it appeared as if they knew what’s going to work for them at the right time.

BRIEF SCORE: Day-2 (5th Test), England vs Australia, The Ashes 2023
England: 283/10 (Brook 85, Duckett 41, Woakes 36, Starc 4/82, Murphy 2/22, Hazlewood 2/54)
Australia: 295/10 (Smith 71, Khawaja 47, Cummins 36, Woakes 3/61, Broad 2/49, Root 2/20)

Australia lead by 12 runs

The Ashes 2023, 5th Test (Day-2): Match Details

• Venue: Kennington Oval, London, England
• Dates: 27 Jul – 31 Jul
• Toss: Won by Australia, Chose to Bowl first
• Umpires: Joel Wilson (WI) & Kumar Dharmasena (SL)
• TV umpire: Nitin Menon (IND)
• Reserve umpire: David Millns (ENG)
• Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SL)
• Watch Live on: