The Ashes 2023: 2nd Test (Day-1) Match Report (England vs Australia)

The Aussies on Day 1 of the England vs Australia second Test of the Ashes 2023, emerged as the dominant side at Lord’s by ending their day at 339/5. Although, the conditions were highly favourable for bowlers, England couldn’t take advantage of the opportunity they availed after winning the toss. Steve Smith, once again showcased his class by playing a brilliant knock of 85 runs and acting as an anchor by building back to back 100-run partnerships with Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head.

The Ashes 2023, 2nd Test (Day-1): What really happened?

The first day of second test started off after two short breaks taken due to rains and witnessed a dramatic beginning when at the end of the very first over, Just Stop Oil protesters stormed into the field with orange powder which they aimed to spread over the pitch. Thanks to David Warner & Ben Stokes who stopped one of the protesters from reaching the pitch while the other one was carried off the field by Jonny Bairstow.

The Australian innings started off well with both the openers, Usman Khawaja & David Warner, posted 73 runs on the score board for the first wicket when Khawaja (17 runs) got clean bowled on a full length delivery by Josh Tongue. At his individual score of 20, Warner got a life when Ollie Pope, positioned at 4th slip, dropped his catch which assisted Warner to reach his unbeaten 53 till lunch. Soon after lunch, Tongue once again made a breakthrough by claiming Warner’s wicket in the similar fashion as in case of Khawaja. Warner had to depart after his 35th test fifty of 66 runs came to an end at a score of 96/2.

The Ashes 2023, 2nd Test (Day-1): How Australia dominated

Further, Smith along with Labuschagne built a 102-run partnership which took the Aussies to 198 before Labuschagne lost his wicket to Robinson, thereby missing his fifty just by three runs. Moving forward, Smith was joined by Travis Head who again played a brilliant knock of 77 runs which helped both the batters to build a huge partnership of 118 runs, thus putting Australia in a quite dominating position by posting 316/4 on the score board.

Meanwhile, Smith also completed his fifty and stood as an anchor ensuring his team’s strong hold over the match on the very first day. Just 3 balls after Root had shown Travis his way to the pavilion, the seamer once again struck the new partnership between Smith & Cameron Green, by claiming the wicket of the new comer. After Green departed, Alex Carey joined Smith as the last batting pair for the day. Both batters added 23 runs to the total before the day ended.

The English side definitely missed out a big opportunity of taking advantage of suitable bowling conditions which would have helped them in bouncing back after facing a defeat in the first test. Though Root claimed two back to back wickets of Travis & Cameron in a single over to help England regain its confident in the ongoing game, but it was too late to check the visitors from posting a huge score on the very first day. At stumps, the Aussies ended at 339/5 with Smith & Carey on the crease.

The Ashes 2023, 2nd Test (Day-1): Match Details

Venue: The Lord’s Cricket Stadium

Dates: 28 Jun to 02 Jul

Toss: Won by England, Chose to Bowl first

Umpires: Ahsan Raza (PAK) and Chris Gaffaney (NZ)

TV umpire: Marais Erasmus (SA)

Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)

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