Ashes 2019, second Test match report: Marnus Labuschagne digs in to force draw
Marnus Labuschagne made history on day five at Lord's after stepping in when Steve Smith was ruled out of the match, producing a match-saving half-century in fading light as Australia head to Leeds with their 1-0 series lead intact.
A controversial catch threatened to rock the second Test at Lord’s before Australia’s next generation of leaders survived seven nail-biting overs to send the Ashes to Headingley with England still down 1-0.
But the home team could have wrestled back the series momentum after threatening to take a memorable win despite just three days and one session of another unforgettable Lord’s Test.
A day that started when Steve Smith was ruled out of the game with concussion ended when Australia’s two vice-captains Travis Head (42 not out) and Pat Cummins (1 not out) surviving the pace of Jofra Archer then four final overs of spin to guide their team to a draw, six wickets down.
Head also survived being dropped on 22 by Jason Roy, who could suffer the same fate before the third Test.
In between all that Ben Stokes smashed an epic hundred, Archer rattled the Australian top order, David Warner failed again and the man who replaced Smith, Marnus Labuschagne was smashed in the helmet before making a match-saving 57.
It was nearly too much to handle for the Aussies who were left reeling at 2-19 after a stunning start from Archer which included removing Warner for just five, to continue his woeful start to the season, after Australia was given 48 overs to bat out.
Labuschagne, the first concussion sub in Test history, then proved his worth as he shook off being hit on the grill of his helmet second ball by Archer to post a stubborn half century.
He was only out, for 57, when England captain Joe Root claimed a catch which replays could not confirm did or didn’t bounce.
After on-field umpires gave the soft signal as out, third umpire Joel Wilson, who had a record number of decisions overturned in Edgbaston, eventually agreed.
As the overs ticked down Head continued to survive and watched his captain Tim Paine be dismissed by a stunning one-handed outfield catch from Joe Denly after Archer had continued to hammer him with short stuff.
But with just four overs to go, and the London darkness taking hold, England was forced to remove Archer from the attack and bowl spin only for the 24 balls.
With seven men fielding around the bat and just as many close calls Head and Cummins survived to ensure their team takes a lead to the next Test at Headingley which begins on Thursday, and could yet start without Smith.
The batting superstar declared his intent to be ready as he recovered from the blow to his neck on day four, which resulted in him being removed from the game with delayed concussion.
His presence at Leeds is questionable but even more necessary given the form woes of Warner.
The struggling opener was again first man out, for just five, and has now failed to reach double figures four times in a row, just the second such run of small scores in his 76 Test career.
After blitzing the World Cup, the 32-year-old has been an Ashes flop with just 15 runs at a scary series average of just 3.75. His opening stands with Cameron Bancroft, who was out for 16, have returned only 41 runs and it’s a partnership Australia has to address.
Marcus Harris, who opened for six straight Tests during the home summer, is waiting in the wings and called be called upon at Leeds in a bid to get something from the top two.
Warner looks a shell of the man who bashed bowling attacks before his 12-month ban and his white ball runs in the World Cup, against a Kookaburra ball on flatter pitches, have left him unprepared for his return to Test cricket.
The opener’s struggles have come as England fats bowler Archer announced himself as an Ashes weapon with another final day spell that almost pushed the home team to victory.
Archer, regularly topping 145kmh, removed Warner and then Usman Khawaja in an electric four over spell after England set Australia an unlikely winning target of 267 in 48 overs.
Matthew Wade also fell cheaply, but Head survived and stamped himself as key member of an Australian batting line-up which thrived in Edgbaston, but still has to prove itself, and possibly without Smith.
Originally published as Ashes 2019, second Test match report: Marnus Labuschagne digs in to force draw