Ashes 2015 2nd Test: Match Report

As expected, The Australians bounced back hard. With a typical Aussie performance, they defeated the English in the 2^nd Test. Australians dominated the game from ball one and never gave England a chance to comeback. A large first innings total by the Aussies itself set England on the backfoot. However this wasn’t over yet. As the bowlers still had to prove their dominance. This outstanding contribution of both, batsmen as well as the bowlers won the visitors, the all important second test. Here's a recap:

Day 1 – Smith and Rogers destroy England on the first day.

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The day started with Steve Waugh presenting the baggy green to Peter Nevill, who became the 443rd Australian test player. Michael Clarke won the toss and elected to bat first. As we all know that Lords’ pitch is slow and has very less bounce, a batting paradise. Australia made two changes in their squad: Mitchell Marsh and Peter Nevill replacing Shane Watson and Brad Haddin. England played with the same team which was actually expected as no one these days changes the winning combination. 

According to the tradition at Lords, this time Punter rung the bell to start off with the match. David Warner and Chris Rogers oftenly known as The Best of the Enemies came out to bat with a positive approach in their minds. English bowling attack was looking pretty much calm but David Warner was certainly not in the mood to calm down. Warner looked hungry for runs, not just runs but some quick and aggressive runs. Warner shaped his early innings by boundaries. He unfortunately was sent back to pavilion by Moeen Ali on 38 of 42 balls. His innings included 7 aggressive boundaries. The Englishmen were very ecstatic but there were some nervous nerves too as Kaboom was replaced by the recent Aussie batting sensation- Steven Smith.

Chris Rogers looked in a great nick and executed his shots very well. English bowlers tried all the tactics and so did Cook but nothing seemed to offer them as Smith and Rogers got totally set. Rogers registered his 8^th fifty in his last 9 innings equalling the record of most consecutive fifties i.e. 7. This wasn’t enough for the English destruction as Smith too piled up his fifty soon. Australians extended their domination by scoring freely and without any risk.

Rogers, being one of the cleanest hitter of the balls, drived English bowlers all over the ground. Being such a good nick, it was expected that he would go on to score a century and yes, he did it. He registered his century with a four and there came off the helmet. This innings was perfectly shaped by him and was perfectly supported by Smithy. The Aussies were hungry for more as the World number 1 registered his name on the Lords Honours board. This century was just another one for Smith as he continued his Purple Patch. Both the batsman looked in a perfect mood to destroy the English bowling attack.Smithy and Rogers posted an unbeaten 259-run stand. In doing so they broke the record for the best Ashes second wicket partnership (for either side) at Lord’s, a record previously set by Sir Donald Bradman and Bill Woodfull in 1930 when they added 231 runs together.

England had one last hope that was the second new ball. They took it as soon as 79^th over ended. But still it wasn’t of any use as Rogers went on to make 150.One of the criticisms against Rogers has been his inability to score big hundreds but what a perfect setting to prove them wrong. 150 at Lord's in a Test when Australia were desperate need of a strong, early statement. Australia ended their day with 337 runs on the board and by loss of only 1 wicket.

As we all saw, Day 1 completely belonged to the visitors as they aggressively scored 337 runs with the loss of ony one wicket.  For the hosts, none of the bowlers impressed on a flat deck. James Anderson and Stuart Broad found a wee bit of movement in the air and off the deck, but either of them couldn't take a single wicket. David Warner was the only batsman to be dismissed, but it has to be said that he gifted his wicket away to Moeen Ali.

Day 2- Smith’s double ton and Johnson’s brace puts Kangaroos in the driver’s seat.

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The second day started with Rogers facing the King of Swing- James Anderson. The first ball bowled on the second day lead to a minor blow for Chris Rogers. He was hit exactly below his ear. He got some assistance as he was bleeding. The good news was that he was ready to continue batting after receiving some help from the physio. The honeycomb helmet that Rogers was using helped soften the blow. However he didn’t last long on the crease on the second day as he got an inside edge directly onto the stumps of Stuart Broad. He surely played his part and contributed very well by scoring 173 of 300 balls. After his departure came the skipper of Australia- Michael Clarke. Michael Clarke got off to a wonderful start as Smith inched closer to his 150 mark. The 26-year-old World number 1  brought up his fourth 150 and his second such score in 2015. However, the England bowlers maintained good line and lengths and the Australian batsmen respected the bowlers by playing the ball on merit. 

Short ball is a concern for many batsmen and so is it for Michael Clarke. He isn’t scoring well recently and he continued his poor form when he mistimed a pull shot of Mark Wood straight to Gary Balance and lost his crucial wicket for just 7 runs. Departure of Pup lead to arrival of a well First-Class experienced Adam Voges. He started off in a positive manner as he kept dealing in regular boundaries to extend their dominance. Australia were in a position of strength, having moved to 424/3 at lunch on day 2. Smith was unbeaten on 168, 31 short of equalling his highest Test score of 199, and Voges was not out on 24.

Soon after the lunch, in the second over , Voges got outside edge handing a simple catch to Jos Butler. Broad was right on the money as he got this wicket and he looked hungry for more. Soon after few overs Mitchell Marsh too followed Voges when he got dismissed cheaply for 12 runs. This wicket too belonged to Stuart Broad who was on fire with the red ball. This lead to the arrival of the debutant Peter Nevill. He looked nervous but that wasn’t the actual case as he played some outstanding shots. The Australian No. 3 brought up his maiden double hundred in style, flicking Moeen Ali to the deep mid-wicket boundary. This was the first double ton by an Australian overseas since Jason Gillespie's 201* against Bangladesh in 2006. This also lead to Australia achieving the milestone of 500 runs.

Smith and Nevill added 91 runs for the sixth wicket before Root ended the partnership by dismissing the double centurion on 215.  Nevill followed soon, finding Moeen Ali at mid-off to give Root his second wicket. Just as Mitchell Johnson fell to Stuart Broad in the first over after the tea, Michael Clarke declared the innings at 566/8.

In reply to this Australian total, Cook and Lyth came out to bat with the mind-set of staying at the crease as long as possible. But Mitchell Starc dint have same approach in mind as he struck off the second ball of the innings to get rid of Adam Lyth for a duck. Lyth continued his poor performance over his weakness of attempting the balls outside off stump. Gary Ballance was now at the crease. He welcomed Mitchell Johnson into the attack with a stylish drive to the long-off boundary. However, the bowler had the last laugh as Ballance was bowled off the third delivery of Johnson's over which kept slightly low, and he had to depart on 23. Ian Bell fell to Hazlewood in the following over, bowled for 1, after missing a flick. The trouble didn’t end here as the in-form English batsman Joe Root got out cheaply off Johnson, handing him his second wicket. He was surely in mood to take revenge after his poor performance in the first test.

Due to this, Ben Stokes arrived in the middle to give Cook a supporting hand and to play his natural game too. Cook and Stokes, however, looked in a very good nick as they extended their partnership past fifty and remained unbeaten to take the hosts 85/4 on the stumps of day 2.

Day 2 completely belonged to the Aussies as they piled up a huge total which included a double century by Steve Smith. England, in reply, gave too many early wickets. This was 7th time they had lost 3 wickets very cheaply in last few years. Johnson though, finally proved his worth by getting two important wickets. Cook and Stokes held their grip tight as they went past 50 runs partnership firmly.

Day 3 – England tried their best to comeback but it wasn’t best enough.

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Alastair Cook and Ben Stokes had constructed a 50 runs partnership. This partnership helped the hosts to put up 100 runs on the board. At the same time Ben Stokes registered his 50 too in the 35^th over. This was Stokes’ third consecutive 50+ score at Lord’s.

The England captain Alastair Cook, who is often known for playing at his best whenever England is chasing a huge total, too crossed the 50 runs mark for the 43^rd time. Earlier that day, Cook had also crossed Alec Stewart (4762) as the 3^rd highest run-scorer for England in tests.

The duo added 145 runs to the 5^th wicket partnership as Ben Stokes got an inside edge to stumps of Mitchell Marsh and was eventually dismissed for 87. This knock was an aggressive one with some textbook shots. England were now 175/5.

An over later, Cook was struck on his elbow by Mitchell Johnson’s delivery when he was trying to leave it. He looked in tremendous pain but he had a positive work with the physio and continued playing.

Butler, who came in after the departure of Ben Stokes, too had to depart when he got a faint nick of Lyon to Nevill. The Australians appealed but umpire gave it not out. However, Butler had started walking as soon as the Australians appealed. This was the first wicket for Lyon in this test. The incident that took place was moreover like “The Walking Incident” in the semi-final of ICC World Cup 2007 when the Australian legend Adam Gilchrist walked even though umpire had given it not out.

Cook looked well set and was looking forward for a three figure score as he was already in 90’s. Unfortunately he got out at 96 of Mitchell Marsh.  Mitchell Marsh had proved his worth in the team as a 5^th bowler by getting two of the most important wickets of Ben Stokes and Alastair Cook. He surely proved that his worth in the team is more than Watto. At this stage England were 266/7, still trailing by 300 runs.

Soon after the tea break, Moeen Ali was sent back to the pavilion by Josh Hazlewood for 39. In Hazlewood’s next over, he proved a threat to Mark Wood too as he dismissed him very cheaply, as England slipped to 306/9. Stuart Broad was the last one to depart when he edged Mitchell Johnson, straight to first slip to Shaun Marsh who was the substitute fielder. England were bowled out for 312 to concede a 254 runs lead.

Now it was time for David Warner and Chris Rogers to pile up some quick runs to maximise the lead. They both started off their innings well. Warner got his 50 in the 23^rd over itself.  A four for Rogers off Joe Root in 24^th over extended Australia’s lead past 350. On the stumps of day 3, Warner was on 60 and Rogers was on 44, both unbeaten. The Kangaroos summed up their day at 108/0 with a lead of 362 runs.

England couldn’t have won the match after day 3. The only choice they had was to take it out as a draw. But Aussies were pretty much clear in their minds as they dint let the action shift to the 5^th day too. They devastated English side with a solid performance. This is what we expect from the Mighty Aussies.

Day 4- All round play.  Bowlers’ dominated completely on a flat deck to ensure a 405 runs victory.

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The day started with some free scoring by the Aussies. However, when rogers was on 49, he suddenly experienced dizziness. He immediately called the physio and he was taken off the field and was declared retired hurt. Warner looked too aggressive on the other side as he took on the English bowling attack, especially the spinners. He unfortunately got out of a spinner only when he was trying to smack the ball over the extra over. He played a selfish innings for his team. His innings ended on 83.

Clarke came out with a positive approach of demoralising English attack as he smashed some early aggressive boundaries. The contest between Smith and Broad wouldn’t have got any better. Broad tried to restrict the run flow by bowling wide outside off. Smith played and missed a few times and then walked across to smash the daylights out of one delivery and got it to the long off boundary. Broad then switched to round the wicket and still kept it wide outside off. Smith responded with T20 type swipe over mid-wicket. While the blow must have been disheartening, it was the way in which Smith did it that would hurt England. He exposed his stumps, almost went on a fully open stance, sending out a message to Broad and showed just who the boss is at the moment.

Smith raced to his fifty with three consecutive boundaries. It was one of the well shaped innings required at that stage of game. Unfortunately he departed very soon after his 50. However, he departed with the highest runs at Lord’s in a single match. The lead was soon past 500 after Mitchell Marsh smashed two massive sixes. Clarke declared as soon as the score passed 500. He gave 10 minutes for English batsmen to bat before lunch.

England came out to bat with a view to draw the test as the visitors had pit the equation of chasing out of reach. And there it was, another failure for Lyth. He got out of Starc to another delivery outside off-stump.

Cook is often known for leaving most of all balls which are outside off, but this time he went to attempt one to cut it past backward point and lost his wicket to Johnson. The first ball after drinks break and also Mitchell Marsh’s first ball of the innings got Gary Ballance. Few over later, Bell too got an inside edge to short leg of Lyon and got dismissed cheaply. England’s best batting was yet to come with the lights of Joe Root and Ben Stokes. Johnson got Butler and Moeen Ali too. Johnson was surely on fire bagging these two crucial wickets.

Later, while completing a run, Stokes didn’t ground his bat and Johnson’s throw directly hit the stumps. Though Stokes could have made his ground easily but that wasn’t the case because of his foolishness. England lost its inform batsman Ben Stokes of a silly run out.Broad felt a victim to Nathan Lyon when he got dismissed of a simple ball. The bigger blow came later as a delivery from Hazlewood kept a little low on Root and rearranged the stumps. Australia were now just one wicket shy of leveling the series. Hazlewood soon got his man James Anderson. England were all out on a very cheap score of 103. Australia won the 2^nd test by 405 runs.

The visitors won the second test with a huge margin. England will surely have to regroup as they will be highly devastated with this loss. The action now moves to 3^rd test. Stay tuned guys. We will be back soon, till then take care and enjoy reading our other articles. Goodbye!