Five things we learned: Jofra Archer passes first Test, Tim Paine knows the risks and Cam Bancroft proves practice makes perfect

Jofra Archer’s first spell in Test cricket suggested he will be a force in the series if Australia don’t get on top of him early. That and four other things we learned from day two at Lord’s.

• Match report: Advantage Aussies despite Warner flop
• Bite-sized Ashes: The Hoff is back, Ussie pills lollies
• Is Bodyline back? Short stuff fires up Lord’s crowd
• The happy accident of Tim Paine’s captaincy

After play finally got underway in the second Ashes Test a fascinating contest quickly revealed itself, with Australia striking early with some serious, and controlled, aggression with the ball, and England laying at least one punch of their own late in the day.

Here are five things takeaways from the day’s action:

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JOFRA ARCHER’S GONNA BE FUN TO WATCH, BUT NOT TO FACE

If his first over in Test cricket, and first spell, is any indication of what’s to come, England’s great fast bowling hope is absolutely what they call “box office”.

England bowler Jofra Archer was electric in his opening spell in Test cricket even without taking a wicket.

His first six balls ranged from 144kmh to 147khm. He nearly bowled Cameron Bancroft with his second ball, and followed that with a bouncer that, even after a marathon day in the stands, had the crowd on its feet wanting more.

He bowled at both ends in the final hour of play and while he didn’t take a wicket in his six overs, he could have had three. Great for cricket, maybe a few worries for Australia.

RISKS DON’T SCARE TIM PAINE

Winning a rare toss, with the wicket looking flattish, and dry, suggesting Nathan Lyon could spin England out in the final innings, again, the decision to bowl from the Australian skipper was an aggressive one, a positive one, and a risky one all at once.

Tim Paine’s bold decision at the toss spoke of an Australian team full of confidence.

The strategy was clear; the Aussies had to take 20 wickets to win, in four days, so put England in first to get what little juice may have been in the pitch to work for them.

Australia have never lost at Lord’s when they have won the toss and elected to bowl. England was rolled for 258, and 138 came from the last four partnerships.

You’d have to give that a tick.

PAT CUMMINS’ SECOND AND THIRD SPELLS ARE ALWAYS BETTER

He was so good during the home summer, ascending to the top of the world rankings as a first change bowler, that the next evolutionary step for Pat Cummins was getting the new ball.

Australia's Pat Cummins had a slow start but brought pace and heat as the day unfolded.

He did make his debut as a new rock weapon in 2011. But at both Edgbaston and now Lord’s, Cummins didn’t make an impact with the new ball.

He said he was nervous and anxious in Birmingham, and could also have been at Lord’s, playing his first Test there. But his second and third efforts were something special.

He was menacing; bowling bouncers, hitting helmets, and eventually taking wickets. He just got better as the day went on.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

At every Australian training session, Cameron Bancroft will grab his helmet, and ask for some short-leg practice. Every time.

The quote from Australian Test great Steve Waugh has been on rotation too after Bancroft’s brilliant catch to dismiss English opener Rory Burns on day one at Lord’s.

“I had a session with him the other day and I’ve never seen anything like it,” Waugh said before the first Test.

“If he plays, England beware because he’s the best short leg I’ve ever seen”.

Steve Smith hits thousands of balls and is the best batsman since Sir Donald Bradman. He’s a batting genius, but the harder you work, the luckier you get.

JOS BUTTLER LOOKS FRIED

The poster-boy for England’s post World Cup exhaustion was Jos Buttler, the man who shattered the stumps to give his country a victory for the ages.

England's Jos Buttler appears to be a spent force after his World Cup exertions.

He was given time off and wasn’t required for the one-off Test against Ireland.

But the consensus after he was out for a meek innings of 12 at Lord’s, with a nothing shot which looked indecisive at best, was that Buttler looks cooked.

He’s returned just 18 runs in three Ashes innings, and given his modest Test record of just one century in 57 Test innings, and an average of 34, he’s not the Ashes weapon England hoped he would be.