AUSTRALIA took a giant stride towards levelling the Ashes series as they racked up a huge total and devastated England’s top order on the second day of the Lord’s Test.Steve Smith’s masterful 215 underpinned Australia’s 566-8 declared and laid a platform from which to attack with the ball.
In an electrifying spell of fast bowling, Mitchell Johnson took two wickets in seven balls as England lost their first four wickets for 30 runs.
On a pitch that remains slow, Alastair Cook and Ben Stokes spared England further embarrassment with an unbroken 55-run stand but they closed on 85-4, still 481 runs in arrears.
England’s deficit reflects two days of complete Australia dominance in response to losing the first Test in Cardiff by 169 runs.
Australia, who were 5-0 victors at home in 2013-14, only need to draw the series to retain the Ashes.
With the comfort of a mammoth total behind them, Australia’s pacemen could afford to let rip against England batsmen wearied by nearly two days in the field.
And it took only took two balls to land the breakthrough. Adam Lyth, wafting at a wide away-swinger, edged into the gloves of debutant wicketkeeper Peter Nevill.
Gary Ballance paid a high price for having the cheek to drive Johnson’s first ball for four as a 90mph yorker cannoned into his off stump.
Ian Bell was bowled by Josh Hazlewood when he tried to work a straight ball to leg, and Joe Root – so often England’s saviour in recent times – edged Johnson behind for one.
With the close of play still 19 overs away, Australia sensed an opportunity to all but wrap up the match, but Stokes counter-punched his way to 38 and Cook dug deep to reach 21 by stumps.