Ashes 2023: Australia defeat England at Lord’s to take 2-0 lead after controversial, volcanic Test
The final day of the second Test exploded in controversy with ugly scenes at Lord’s, where Ben Stokes threatened to pull off another miracle – before Australia produced a great escape.
Ben Stokes somehow bettered his Headingley heroics from 2019, but it still wasn’t enough for England to prevent a 2-0 Ashes deficit as Australia won a volcanic Lord’s Test from which there will be enormous fallout.
Set 371 to level the series, England recovered from 4-45 on day four to draw within striking distance as captain Stokes belted 155 including nine sixes to take his side to 6-301.
However having survived three dropped catches, Stokes’ luck finally ran out when England’s champion all-rounder top-edged one from Josh Hazlewood to be caught by the circling Alex Carey.
Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson then fell quickly before Mitchell Starc ended the match by bowling Josh Tongue as Australia claimed a 43-run victory, meaning England will need to become just the second side and first in more than 80 years to come from behind and win the Ashes after being 2-0 down.
But that summary does little justice to a highly dramatic last day at Lord’s.
Stokes and Ben Duckett put on 132 for the fifth wicket before a one-handed Carey grab removed Duckett for 83 off Hazlewood’s bowling.
The fateful moment though came when England’s No. 7 Jonny Bairstow went wandering down the pitch on 10 after dodging a Cameron Green short ball. Carey, seeing that Bairstow had strayed, tossed the ball at the stumps. Much to England’s bewilderment, the Aussies appealed, with third umpire Marais Erasmus sending the England gloveman on his way.
The incident had several aftershocks. The usually genteel Lord’s crowd bayed in disgust, booing and chanting about Australians being cheaters.
At the lunch break, the Aussies were allegedly verbally abused and came into physical contact with MCC members, for which the MCC apologised. Australian team management has however demanded an investigation.
But the dismissal also served to ignite Stokes, who upped the ante dramatically in a century stand with Broad either side of lunch.
Australia, haunted by Stokes’ salvage mission at Leeds four years ago, put men on the boundary. Stokes simply cleared it, albeit he had a few lives, with Pat Cummins putting down a tough caught and bowled chance with Stokes on 77, Steve Smith dropping one in the deep when the England captain was on 114, and Carey spilling a tough gloved chance with Stokes on the same score.
Having farmed the strike, and well-supported by Broad, Stokes surpassed his unbeaten 135 from Headingley but the task was ultimately too mountainous.
No. 11 Jimmy Anderson was felled by a Starc short ball only to continue batting.
The match had already been shrouded in controversy after Starc was denied a catch of Duckett late on day four, with Erasmus deeming that the left-armer had not completed the take.
Australia managed to win without a single over from Nathan Lyon, who could not bowl after hurting his calf in the field on day two. Like England, the Aussies relied heavily on short-pitched bowling on a largely docile Lord’s deck.
The two sides head back to Headingley for the third Test beginning on Thursday, with England needing to win the three remaining Tests to regain the Ashes.
Not since Australia’s win in 1936-37 has a side come from 2-0 down to claim the urn.
RE-LIVE ALL THE ACTION ON A DRAMATIC FINAL DAY BELOW
By Joe Barton
STUMPS: AUSTRALIA PULL OFF ANOTHER MIRACLE
Australia have sealed a dominant 2-0 series lead in the Ashes, with a 43-run win capping another dramatic final day.
A week after Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon batted Australia to victory at Edgbaston, it seemed certain that England captain Ben Stokes would do the same to level the series.
Stokes revived his heroics of Headingley four years ago, when he pulled off one of the greatest comebacks of all time, to smash a magical 155 and get England within sight of victory.
But his dismissal, via a top-edge off Josh Hazlewood, triggered a collapse of 3-1 which sucked the life out of England’s chase and the Lord’s crowd.
On an extraordinary day, the normally genteel Lord’s crowd turned feral after Australia controversially claimed the wicket of Jonny Bairstow in another flashpoint in a spicy series.
Bairstow absentmindedly wandered out of his crease after ducking a Cameron Green bouncer, and was out of his ground when Australian keeper Alex Carey rolled the ball into the stumps.
It sent the crowd into a frenzy of boos, and sparked Stokes’ superhuman performance.
But it wasn’t enough, despite a brave 25-run final wicket stand between James Anderson and Josh Tongue, and now Australia has a 2-0 lead – their first in away Ashes since 2001, the last time an Australian touring party took a series win in England.
Hazlewood, Cummins and Mitchell Starc finished the day with three wickets each, while Green was credited with the stumping wicket of Bairstow.
The series now heads to Headingley, on Thursday.
1.00AM: NEW BALL AVAILABLE AS ANDERSON ESCAPES
Australia think they have the final wicket – with Jimmy Anderson gloving a catch to Alex Carey.
It’s surprisingly given not out, and Australia choose to review, but soon find the reason why it wasn’t given.
Anderson’s right glove – which took a piece of the ball – was off his bat when it brushed past.
Older readers might recall that exact same scenario cruelling Australia in 2005, when Michael Kasprowicz was ruled out caught behind – sealing a two-run England win - despite replays showing his glove was off the bat.
Ricky Ponting, captain of that Australian team, is in commentary at the time.
“Where was DRS in 2005?” appeals a shattered Ponting.
You wonder if Anderson might’ve preferred to walk – given he has worn so many blows to the body, before and after, that chance.
England trail by 49.
12.45AM: WORRYING SCENES AS ANDERSON FLOORED BY BOUNCER
That is a nasty, nasty bouncer from Mitchell Starc and it has floored England veteran Jimmy Anderson.
The No.11 made the bold decision to charged at Australia’s fastest bowler, but was beaten and took the full force of the delivery to the grille of his helmet.
Anderson ends up on his hands and knees as he gathers himself from the vicious blow.
The Australians fielding in close are quick to check on Anderson’s welfare.
England need 61 runs to win, and it’s unlikely these two are capable of pulling that off. I’m not sure it is necessary to be bowling 145km/h thunderbolts at the head of their 40-year-old No.11.
12.30AM: WICKET! AUSSIES ON CUSP OF 2-0 SERIES LEAD
The end is nigh for England.
This time it is Stuart Broad who falls to the short stuff, out hooking Josh Hazlewood for 11 – with Cameron Green taking a fine low catch at fine leg.
Just the one wicket to come for Australia, with Jimmy Anderson arriving at the crease.
England still need 69 runs.
12.20AM: WICKET! AUSSIES BACK ON TOP AFTER SMITH SNARE
One brings two, and Australia are back on top at Lord’s – a mere 10 minutes after it must’ve felt like all hope was lost.
It’s Pat Cummins this time, with another short ball which Ollie Robinson attempts to hoik onto the onside to be out for 1.
But he gets underneath it a little too much, and Steve Smith takes an excellent outfield catch – some redemption after his earlier drop of Stokes.
He gets himself into a tangle, but recovers to pouch a great diving catch.
England need 69, with Josh Tongue joining Stuart Broad at the crease.
12.15AM: WICKET! STOKES DEPARTS AFTER STUNNING 155
A wicket! Ben Stokes’ utterly extraordinary innings comes to an end, with England still requiring 70 runs.
Stokes skies a hook off a Josh Hazlewood bouncer, and Alex Carey – the new public enemy No.1 at Lord’s – races around to take a simple catch.
He finishes on a simply brilliant 155, but is crestfallen at having been dismissed, dropping to his haunches before a slow march back to the England sheds.
Australia recognises the magnificence of that knock, with Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja among the players to walk up and congratulate him.
That is an enormous momentum changer. It’s sucked the air out of Lord’s. But has he done enough? England have three wickets still to play with, but they’ll have to do it with their tail.
12.05AM: CAN NEW BALL SAVE AUSSIES?
There’s no life in Australia right now, despite England still needing 72 runs for victory – with four wickets in hand.
One wicket, specifically that of Ben Stokes, will change everything.
But it hasn’t looked like happening, outside of Steve Smith’s dropped catch, since the Jonny Bairstow dismissal triggered beast mode.
Is there anything that can save them? Well, the new ball is due in nine overs and Australia bowled at their best with the new ball earlier in this innings.
“The air’s gone out of the ball. The pitch has really died,” laments Mark Taylor.
It would take something remarkable to arrest England’s momentum, however.
11.50PM: STOKES REACHES 150, ENGLAND NEED 75
There’s almost nothing left to say about Ben Stokes.
When he gets into this sort of situation he becomes Bradman, Sobers and Richards all wrapped into one.
He’s almost single-handedly trimmed the lead down to 75, and just passed 150.
From 51 to 151, it took 98 deliveries. He is a bonafide freak.
England have also moved into favouritism, with WinViz giving them a 51 per cent chance of victory.
There must be questions asked regarding Australia’s tactics – giving Stokes singles whenever he wants, while getting one or two deliveries an over at Stuart Broad, as the lead evaporates.
It’s a carbon copy of Stokes’ and England’s strategy at Headingley, but seemingly Australia have learned nothing.
It’s mind-boggling stuff.
11.35PM: STOKES GOES BANG, BANG AFTER RUNS DRY UP
Just when it felt like Australia were starting to build some pressure on England, Ben Stokes does what Ben Stokes does.
He hits back to back sixes off Mitchell Starc, as life starts to drain from the Australian attack.
Stokes is doing it all over again, picking his moments, declining singles, clubbing boundaries and doing it all himself.
He is unbeaten on 148 and England need 79 more for victory.
Since the lunch break, Stuart Broad has faced just 15 deliveries. It is a stark reminder of how Stokes single-handedly willed England to victory at Headingley, protecting Jack Leach and punishing Australia at the other end.
“Australia have regained some sort of control. Before lunch it was all going off… since lunch, more control but not looking overly threatening,” says Andrew Strauss.
11.15PM: ENGLAND’S RUNS REQUIRED DIP BELOW 100
Oh my, oh my, oh my.
England need 95 for victory – and, just like Headingley four years ago, things just aren’t working for Australia.
Top-edges for four. Skied shot somehow evading fielders.
And catches, to normally sure-handed fielders like Steve Smith, going to ground.
Ben Stokes is playing another absolute pearler, pulling the strings to perfection as he declines singles, hits boundaries and protects Stuart Broad.
Broad, meanwhile, is having the time of his life out in the middle. He’s copped body blow after body blow from Australia’s short-pitched bowling, but stands resolute.
With Stokes, he’s added 83 for the seventh wicket - surpassing even the 76-run stand between Stokes and Jack Leach at Headingley – though he’s contributed just 10 of those runs.
10.57PM: DROPPED! SMITH GIVES STOKES A LIFE
DROPPED! That’s the chance that Australia needed – and their best fielder, Steve Smith, puts it down.
Josh Hazlewood draws a mistimed hook from Ben Stokes off an uncomfortable bouncer, and it travels to Smith at the midwicket boundary.
But with the Test on the line, Smith fumbles the chance to give Stokes a life on 114.
How costly will that be? It’s Test over, you’d imagine, if he takes it.
“One of the best fielders in the world has dropped a dolly,” says Nasser Hussain.
“99 times out of 100 he’s catching that.”
10.55PM: ALL ON THE LINE IN MIDDLE SESSION
We’re back. The mood has changed at Lord’s. Lots of boos. Very tense.
Ben Stokes is a man on a mission, and whilever he is there, England remain a chance – and considerably more than that, really.
He’s 108 and finding the boundary – and beyond – with brutal hitting.
Do Australia have an answer?
10.30PM: TEMPERS FLARE IN UGLY LORD’S FLASHPOINT
The atmosphere at Lord’s has quickly become hostile, following the first-session controversy, with batsman Usman Khawaja seemingly taking exception to something said as the Australians returned to their dressing room for lunch.
In ugly scenes in the historic Long Room at Lord’s, as the players retired for lunch after an explosive opening session on day five, officials had to intervene as Khawaja appeared to respond to comments made by a member of the public.
Khawaja had walked past the elderly fan but stopped in his tracks and returned, eager to continue the conversation before multiple officials stepped in to calm the situation.
“You don’t like seeing that from the members,” said Mark Taylor.
Umpire Chris Gaffaney was even forced to step in as Khawaja stood off to the side, before being encouraged to remove himself from the ugly scene - while David Warner also had words to say.
“It’s got a little bit nasty at times. What’s coming from the crowd is quite vicious from the Australians,” says former Test batsman Callum Ferguson.
The latest flashpoint in a spicy series came when Australian keeper Alex Carey controversially ran out England’s Jonny Bairstow.
Usman Khawaja was pulled back by security after speaking to one the members inside the long room 😳
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 2, 2023
ðŸ—£ï¸ "I've NEVER seen scenes like that!" pic.twitter.com/2RnjiNssfw
LUNCH: ENGLAND HOPES REST WITH SUPER-STOKES
It’s never dull.
England are just 128 runs from victory – and Australia four wickets.
But after a pulsating opening session on day five, shrouded in controversy amid another Ben Stokes masterclass, this match is delicately poised.
And the genteel Lord’s crowd has turned a little bit more Edgbaston than what you’d normally expect from the normally more refined London fans.
The session – perhaps the Test, and even the series – will be remembered for Alex Carey’s controversial dismissal of Jonny Bairstow, who was out after haphazardly leaving his crease after ducking a bouncer and was run-out.
That sparked Stokes into action, and the England captain put on his Superman cape to race to 100 and whip the crowd into a frenzy.
As the player leave the field, to loud boos from the home fans, Stuart Broad continues to chirp at Australian players.
Lord’s has come alive.
10.10PM: STOKES GOES BANANAS, RACES TO 100
Is it happening again?
Ben Stokes is currently going into T20 animal mode – racing to 100 after plundering 24 off one Cameron Green over, bringing the century up with three consecutive sixes.
Among them, a chance which hung perilously long in the air as Mitchell Starc attempted a boundary catch.
“England’s superman comes to the party again… how many times can one man do it?” asks Andrew Strauss.
This is looking all too familiar for Australian cricket fans, for whom the Headingley heartache from four years ago is still far too fresh.
10.00PM: STOKES GOES INTO SUPERMAN MODE, ENGLAND FUME
It seems Ben Stokes has switched gears to Headingley 2019 mode – swinging lustily at anything short and thumping boundaries at will.
He is throwing the kitchen sink at everything right now, to the point where the bat slipped out of his grip and flies to square leg.
But he responds with a barrage of boundaries off Cameron Green, whipping the Lord’s crowd into a frenzy.
Meanwhile, Stuart Broad is copping an absolute barrage from Cummins – struck on the helmet, and then under the armpit, and then off the hip, in the one over.
And if you want to know how England fans are reacting to the Bairstow dismissal, controversial media figure – and cricket fan boy - Piers Morgan is a good starting point.
“You cannot be serious??!! Australia, that is pathetic,” Morgan tweeted.
“How can you possibly want to win an Ashes Test match like that?”
For what it’s worth, former England captain Michael Atherton takes a more measured point of view.
“That is dozy cricket from Bairstow, and costly cricket,” says Atherton.
You cannot be serious??!!
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) July 2, 2023
Australia, that is pathetic. How can you possibly want to win an Ashes Test match like that?
9.45PM: WICKET! CONTROVERSY ERUPTS OVER BAIRSTOW RUN-OUT
Never a dull moment in the Ashes – and this is one we will hear about for a long time.
Jonny Bairstow is out for 10, run out by wicketkeeper Alex Carey. But it is controversial.
Bairstow ducks under a Cameron Green bouncer, and after claiming the ball Carey rolls the ball back at the stumps.
In a moment of madness, Bairstow wandered out of his crease, thinking the ball was dead, and the over was complete. But it’s not, and he is well out of his ground when it hits the stumps.
Bairstow is stunned. Australia appeal, and immediately start celebrating as the decision is referred to the third umpire- who confirms it is out.
The genteel Lord’s crowd are in full voice now: loud boos and the popular ‘same old Aussies, always cheating’ chant break out.
At risk of sparking an international incident: by the letter of the law, much like the Mitchell Starc non-catch last night, that is out…
9.35PM: BATTLE-WEARY STOKES PUTS BODY ON LINE
Ben Stokes is taking a battering here – with a Pat Cummins short-ball sneaking through his defences, and striking the skipper on the unprotected back elbow.
That. Would. Hurt.
But he knows this partnership with Jonny Bairstow is the key – and of that, he knows how vital his wicket is.
He’s giving no quarter to Australia, and they’re responding in kind.
Bairstow has been active since arriving at the crease, with two boundaries from his first 11 balls.
England’s required runs has dropped to 180. How close do these two need to get before they can be confident in the tail to finish the job?
9.15PM: WICKET! DRINKS DELIVERS THE BREAKTHROUGH
There’s the breakthrough Australia have been searching for – and it comes the over after the drinks break.
A break for a drink, a break in concentration – and a break in England’s impervious start to today’s run chase.
The short ball does the trick again, Josh Hazlewood with a legside bumper. Ben Duckett can’t control the hook, and feathers a really tough chance to Alex Carey who takes an excellent catch high above his head.
What a series Carey is having.
Duckett departs for 83, a second brilliant knock this Test. England are 5-177, requiring a further 194 runs.
9.10PM: DRINKS: ENGLAND START STRONG, 197 RUNS REQUIRED
A perfect opening 70 minutes for England, it must be said.
The partnership between these two has grown to 129, and Ben Stokes has passed 50 while Ben Duckett is clawing his way towards a maiden Ashes century.
He was cruelly denied on 98 in the first innings, and there’s a dogged determination in him to right some wrongs on that front.
And the runs required have dipped below 200.
Australia’s attack has been tentative – flirting with adopting the short-ball strategy that worked so well for England, without fully committing.
Mitchell Starc has been the pick of the bowlers, with some healthy shouts for LBW.
They know one wicket could be enough to break this England team open – but don’t look like they know where it might come from.
How much would Pat Cummins like to throw the ball to Nathan Lyon right now?
8.45PM: PONTING RESPONDS TO UPSET LYON
Test great Ricky Ponting has moved to clarify comments around Nathan Lyon and the concussion substitute rule that rankled the Australian spin great.
Lyon lashed out after play on day four, taking aim at Kevin Pietersen for suggesting he would be eligible to be subbed out– and replaced by back-up spinner - Todd Murphy should he be concussed during his brave effort to bat, despite suffering from a torn calf.
Lyon’s last-wicket partnership delivered 15 crucial runs for Australia, and Lyon took umbrage at the suggestion Australia had left him open to be replaced in the fourth innings by Murphy.
“I have heard comments that people thought I went out there to get hit in the head and I’m really against that because I’ve lost one of my mates due to being hit in the head. So I think that’s a really poor excuse or conversation being had,” Lyon said.
Lyon was on the field when Phillip Hughes was fatally killed by a bouncer at the SCG in 2014.
Early on day five, Ponting took the chance to speak on behalf of the commentary team for comments he felt had been misrepresented.
“In no way at all were any of us saying that it would be good to see Nathan Lyon get hit in the head and have (to be replaced),” Ponting said.
“In fact it was the other, it was almost the worst-case scenario for England. If they continued to bowl short and Nathan was hit.
“I just wanted to clarify that because there has been some negative chat around this morning which has probably been a little bit unfair.
“By no means, no way at all, would anyone every want to see anyone get hit in the head.”
8.30PM: STOKES ESCAPES WITH VITAL DRS CALL
Déjà vu, anyone?
Ben Stokes survives after correctly reviewing an LBW decision having been given out.
Mitchell Starc with an excellent delivery, pitched up and swinging devilishly and hitting Stokes on the toe.
The England captain wheels away in pain, and doesn’t even need to turn around to know he’s been given out and needs to review – he does that based on Australia’s celebrations.
But there’s a thick inside edge, and that saves the England captain.
Australia not having luck with reviews… Ben Stokes playing a seemingly desperate counterattacking knock... when does this start to feel a little *too* Headingley for Pat Cummins and his teammates?
8.15PM: STOKES READY TO TURN SUPERHERO ONCE MORE
Ben Duckett may be unbeaten on 57, but it is Ben Stokes has the hopes of a nation on his shoulders.
He’s just punched out consecutive boundaries off Mitchell Starc, and suddenly the Lord’s crowd is getting involved in the contest.
With every boundary, every single, England’s belief will grow.
They’ve enjoyed some superb runchases in the Bazball era, and before that, too, such as Stokes’ Headingley heroics.
They’ve been largely written off, and after 15 minutes on the final morning still trail by 241 with six wickets in hand.
But today is a sell-out at Lord’s. And the crowd will be a factor, especially if nerves memories start to infiltrate the minds of the Australians.
8PM: DAY FIVE IS UNDERWAY
It begins.
Ben Duckett and Ben Stokes have a crucial first hour here – if they can weather the early storm from Australia’s quicks, how soon will it be before the horrors of Headingley start to creep back into the minds of the tourists?
Mitchell Starc will open the bowling, and some clouds have just appeared over Lord’s – not rain-bearing clouds, we hope. But could potentially be welcomed by the Australian quicks.
Australia are rated by CricViz as an 85 per cent chance of victory. But WinViz can be a fickle beast.
7.45PM: GLORIOUS LONDON WEATHER FOR FINAL DAY
In case you were wondering, poor weather shouldn’t be a factor for either team tonight.
It’s understood there’s no chance of rain – something, to be fair, you can never say with confidence – and a full day of sunshine awaits.
In theory that should make for good batting conditions, but this fifth day wicket is sure to have a few more gremlins than it did over the first four days.
Best morning for batting so far in this Test at Lord’s. Bright skies, warm(ish), no chance of rain. #Ashespic.twitter.com/g0zf03k0DJ
— Scott Bailey (@ScottBaileyAAP) July 2, 2023
7.30PM: HISTORY ON THE LINE FOR ENGLAND
A brief reminder of what is on the line for England today – and it’s not just a giant hole in this Ashes series.
It would be the first time in 15 years that England have lost consecutive Tests on home soil, and the first time since the 2001 series that they’ve lost the opening two Ashes Tests at home.
2001, of course, being the last time that Australia won a series in England.
They have 257 more runs to pull off one of the more famous Ashes victories.
Does Ben Stokes have one more superhuman performance in him?
7.00PM: BAZBALL OR BORE BALL: WHAT HAPPENED TO ENGLAND’S ENTERTAINERS?
At some point this Test, Bazball died.
There can be no other explanation for why England persisted with the tedious short-pitched bowling that sucked the life out of the contest on day four.
Australia’s runscoring was stifled, and England slowly twisted their way back into the contest on the back of an 8-92 collapse.
But, as noted by the UK Telegraph’s Will Macpherson, “an antidote to Bazball had been found.”
The relentless bouncer barrage, with every ball in a given over, was the exact opposite of what England have boldly declared they care about most: entertainment over winning.
There was very little entertaining about the hour after lunch, when just 17 runs were scored as Alex Carey and Cameron Green ducked short ball after short ball.
Until the final ball before the drinks break, when Cameron Green’s patience finally ran out, they had no intention of chasing the hook and pull with England loading the boundary with fielders like it was the 30th over of a one-day game.
The parochial, and largely local-heavy, crowd at Lord’s was silent. They were not entertained.
Ben Stokes bowled himself into the ground, limping through his eighth over on busted knees before somehow willing his body for four more, so determined was he to continue the Bodyline tactic.
CricViz’s data showed that England’s bowling in the morning session had an average delivery length of 9.71m from the batter – the shortest length in any Test session since records began in 2006.
The afternoon session was even worse: with an average length of 11.05m, and at one point Australian great Ricky Ponting pointed out in commentary the last full-pitched delivery in the match had been bowled 2.5 hours prior.
It was followed up by another half hour of more of the same.
There was no doubting it’s effectiveness, of course. Upon it’s introduction, Australia’s runs immediately dried up. From there, Australia were limited to 279 and England presented with a gettable target – albeit a record-setting one.
It was cricket: but it certainly wasn’t Bazball.
6.00PM: WILL AUSSIES REGRET GUTSY LYON CALL?
Injured Australia star Nathan Lyon insisted he had no regrets about risking further damage to his torn calf during his extraordinary innings at Lord’s on Saturday.
Lyon had been unable to take part in the second Test since suffering what looks certain to be a series-ending calf injury while fielding on Thursday.
But the off-spinner made a remarkable cameo appearance towards the conclusion of Australia’s second innings.
With Australia desperate to set England as challenging a target as possible, Lyon agreed to effectively bat on one leg.
Unable to walk properly, Lyon hopped down the Pavilion steps before slowly limping onto the pitch.
The 35-year-old’s gutsy effort could prove vital to Australia’s hopes of winning the second Test.
He hit one four and stuck around for 13 balls in a last-wicket partnership of 15 with Mitchell Starc before being caught by Ben Stokes off Stuart Broad.
Lyon departed to a standing ovation and, although the veteran bowler clearly put his health on the line, he was adamant he would do the same thing again to help the reigning world Test champions.
“I will do anything for this team. I knew the risks. It was my call. I wanted to bat,” Lyon said.
“You never know how big a 15-run partnership can be in an Ashes series.
“I was proud of myself but if it was tomorrow I would do it again. I love this team.”
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