Ashes 2023: Nathan Lyon injury rocks day 2 as Aussie camp braces for bad news
Australia’s most durable Test star, off-spinner Nathan Lyon, looks out of this test – and possibly the Ashes – with a calf injury as the Aussies brace for the worst.
Australia is bracing for the possibility that Nathan Lyon could miss much of the Ashes series after he suffered a calf injury in the field on Thursday.
In a potentially series-defining moment, Australia’s ironman off-spinner – playing his 100th straight Test – pulled up short while trying to intercept a pull shot from England opener Ben Duckett.
Lyon hobbled off the ground and was assisted by Australian team physio Nick Jones around the boundary to the change rooms. Cricket Australia soon confirmed that Lyon had hurt his right calf. As of Thursday evening (UK time), Lyon had not yet been booked for scans according to a team spokesman. However CA indicated it would provide an update on Friday morning.
While the Aussie camp remains hopeful that Lyon has dodged a serious injury, vice-captain Steve Smith conceded that Lyon’s injury appeared serious.The third Test in Leeds begins next Thursday, while the entire series will be wrapped up by the end of July.
“Haven‘t been up in the sheds yet. But yeah, obviously it didn’t look good. It doesn’t look ideal for the rest of the game,” Smith said after stumps.
“But yeah, I’m not sure how he actually is. But, you know, obviously if he’s no good it’s a big loss for us. He’s in his 100th consecutive Test match, which I know he was really looking forward to taking part in and having a role in as well. So yeah, fingers crossed, he’s OK, but it didn’t look good.”
Not since the 2013 Ashes series has Australia played a men’s Test without Lyon.
“It‘s not ideal, particularly your spin bowler. It’s one role. Batter I suppose there’s loads of us around so it’s a bit different. I think Nathan’s obviously, if he’s no good, it’d be a huge loss,” Smith said.
“However (off-spinner) Todd Murphy is waiting in the wings. He has been bowling beautifully in the nets and bowled really well in India when he got his opportunity as well. So, you know, I’d be confident if he came in he’d do a terrific job for us, but fingers crossed Nathan’s all right.”
Murphy could yet play a role in the series, but Australia won’t be able to call on him to win this match, which at stumps on day two was delicately poised.
Having restricted Australia to 416 despite Smith’s 32nd Test century, England was 4-278 at stumps after a dramatic final session in which the hosts batted aggressively against an influx of short-pitched bowling from Australia.
Harry Brook was 45 not out after being dropped on 25 at square leg by Marnus Labuschagne, while Ben Stokes (17 not out) went against the grain by seeking to leave Australia’s bouncers.
“There was some short stuff. We felt like we were in the game for a lot of the time there. Until probably Stokes, he came out and he was started to duck under a few but, you know, we were setting the fields and they were taking it on and creating opportunities,” Smith said.
“Most of the fast bowlers. they probably wouldn‘t want to keep charging in bowling the short stuff but while I looked as likely as it did, on a pretty benign surface, it was the right way to go.”
With Lyon likely absent, Smith said Australia would hope for better cloud coverage to assist the tourists’ quicks, while using the part-time spin of Travis Head and to a lesser extent Smith and Labuschagne.
Smith said the Lord’s pitch was not offering much for the bowlers and was playing like the considerably criticised wicket from the first Test at Edgbaston.
“Today, it felt pretty similar (to Birmingham). I think with the sun out. It felt like it probably didn‘t have as much zip I suppose. look like it’s slowed up a fair amount. And yeah, it looked pretty similar.”
Duckett, who was caught at fine leg off Josh Hazlewood for 98, said the loss of Lyon could present an opportunity for the home team.
“It‘s a huge shame and I really hope it’s not too bad for him,” Duckett said.
“You never want to see anyone go down with an injury. We all wish him the best. He was going to play a massive part in that fourth innings, he‘s such a good bowler. It will be interesting to see how they go about it.
“If they keep going bumpers with all four bowlers, I think they‘ll be quite tired by the end of it, especially with back to back Tests. Travis bowled all right tonight, so he maybe he will bowl a bit.”
Aussies rocked by shocking Lyon injury
– Joe Barton and Daniel Cherny
Australia’s fortunes in the second Test swung wildly on day two at Lord’s – but ultimately could rest with the dodgy right calf of star spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon left the field late on Thursday distressed after injuring his calf in a hammer blow to Australia’s hopes as England roared back into the second Test.
Despite a Steve Smith-powered total of 416, Australia’s first innings lead was trimmed to 138 by stumps as missed chances cost the tourists dearly.
Re-live all the action from an explosive day below.
STUMPS: ALL EYES ON LYON AFTER ENGLAND FIGHTBACK
Nathan Lyon’s Ashes campaign hangs in the balance – and perhaps Australia’s hopes lie with him – after another dramatic day in this rollercoaster series.
Lyon suffered a calf injury during a manic final session, in which the fortunes of both teams fluctuated wildly as England lost 3-34 from a commanding position before recovering before stumps.
But Lyon’s lame limp from the field threatens to be the most important incident from the day two action at Lord’s – with further scans after play to reveal the extent of the damage to the injury that forced him from the field late in the day.
Australia will be ruing some crucial missed chances late in the day as well. Cameron Green dismissing Joe Root off a no-ball, when on just one, could’ve been costly – had the former England captain not been removed for 11 soon after.
But Marnus Labuschagne spilling a hot chance off Harry Brook, on 25, will burn the Australians. Brook remains unbeaten on 45 at stumps, with England 4-278 and trailing Australia’s first innings by a further 138 runs.
Even aside from the Lyon injury, it was England’s day – dismissing Australia before lunch, despite Steve Smith reaching his 32nd Test century, before batting themselves back into the contest through Ben Duckett (98), Zak Crawley (48) and Ollie Pope (42).
3.15AM: STUMPS APPROACHING, AUSTRALIA NEED ANOTHER WICKET
With 15 minutes to play before stumps, Australia are throwing the kitchen sink at England in search of one final breakthrough.
On what has been a gruelling final session, Australia have ridden the highs and lows – but watched as their first innings lead quickly evaporates with Harry Brook in the middle.
Pat Cummins is rotating his bowlers, and has turned to a final burst from Josh Hazlewood.
3.00AM: CHANCE PUT DOWN BY MARNUS
That’s a tough chance, but it is a chance that Australia needs to take in a match as evenly poised as this one.
It’s another short ball from Pat Cummins, and Harry Brook hits hard and flat to Marnus Labuschagne, just above head height, at square leg – in truth, it looks like he’s been surprised by the pace of it.
It bursts through Labuschagne’s hands and a chance goes begging. A tough chance, no doubt, but with a fielder of his quality you expect them to be taken.
Brook was on 25, with England 4-243. Australia know how dangerous he can be, and how quickly he can rack up runs.
Meanwhile, Australia’s primary spin option with Lyon off the field is… Travis Head! He’s been thrown the ball late in the day.
2.45AM: MURPHY TIME: WHO CAN FILL LYON VOID?
The Australian cricket team have confirmed Nathan Lyon has suffered a right calf injury.
“He will be further assessed post-play,” said a Cricket Australia spokesman.
So we don’t know the severity of the injury.
But we know he looked in serious discomfort, and was grabbing at his calf. And that calf injuries can be notoriously difficult to manage and overcome.
The injury is to Lyon’s right leg, which bears the weight of his follow through every delivery, so as ex-Test batsman Aaron Finch notes – if there is any sort of tear, it’s unlikely we’ll see him again this series.
That would turn the spotlight firmly on 22-year-old Todd Murphy, viewed as something of a Lyon clone who performed strongly in India this year.
Is he ready for the Ashes furnace? He might be about to find out.
Through four Tests, Murphy has 14 wickets at 25.21 – and an economy rate of 2.5. He’s the closest thing to Nathan Lyon that there is on the planet, let alone just in Australia’s touring party.
But Nathan Lyon is a special beast. He’s been Australia’s best bowler through the first seven days of this series. It cannot be understated how big a blow this would be for Australia’s hopes of a first series win on England shores since 2001, if he’s to miss any or all of the remaining Tests.
2.30AM: WICKET! SMITH SCREAMER SENTS ROOT PACKING
What. A. Catch.
Steve Smith, you magician.
That is the wicket that the Australians needed – Joe Root goes for 11 to a wonderful fielding effort from Smith, who capitalises on a pinpoint Mitchell Starc bouncer.
Root mistimes a pull, and it bobbles up just enough for Smith to claim an extraordinary diving catch, diving forward and just getting his fingers underneath the ball.
It bounces up out of his hand, before he pins it to his body. Root is unconvinced, and the third umpire is called on to confirm Smith has claimed a legitimate catch.
He has, to the disappointment of the Lord’s crowd. And England are 4-222.
2.06AM: WICKET! HAZLEWOOD DENIES DUCKETT CENTURY
Oh no! Disaster for Ben Duckett, who falls two runs short of a maiden Ashes century.
A fantastic innings comes to an end, with England 3-208.
Duckett falls victim to the Josh Hazlewood shortball, baited into a hook shot which he sends straight down the throat of David Warner.
The short-ball strategy has taken a while to be employed by Australia, but it has delivered results.
It’s been a hell of an hour at Lord’s, between Nathan Lyon’s injury, two surprise dismissals from England, and Cameron Green’s no-ball calamity that gifted Joe Root a life.
1.50AM: MAJOR BLOW FOR AUSTRALIA AS LYON FORCED OFF
There’s a major concern here for Nathan Lyon, with Australia’s star spinner helped from the field after suffering a lower-leg injury.
Coming in to try and take an outfield catch from a hooking Ben Duckett, the ball fell short and Lyon immediately looked in discomfort and grabbed at his right calf.
After a short assessment beyond the boundary rope, Lyon needed assistance as he limped back to the Australian dressing room.
“That is not a good sight if you’re an Australian supporter,” said ex-England captain Andrew Strauss as Lyon winced in pain while limping around the boundary rope.
“It looks like a calf injury to me. That is really hard to watch. It really is an awful sight.
“You can tell by the look on Lyon’s face, the enormity of it is settling in for Nathan Lyon there. Awful scenes.”
Ex-England international Kevin Pietersen speculated that Lyon’s reaction indicated the star spinner, playing in his 100th consecutive Test, had ‘heard a pop’.
“That is series over, if it’s a pop for Nathan Lyon,” Pietersen said.
1.47AM: WICKET! NO, NO BALL! GREEN’S CARDINAL SIN
Joe Root gets a life and that could be the costliest mistake of Green’s Test.
He bowls another excellent short ball, and has Root – on 1 – gloving a catch to Alex Carey.
It’s a huge wicket, and exactly what Australia needed.
But it is immediately snatched away from him after a costly no ball which brings a huge cheer from the Lord’s crowd.
It’s the fifth no-ball of Green’s spell since tea, which had already become a serious issue for the young all-rounder.
“There’s no excuse for that,” said Andrew Strauss after an earlier no-ball.
1.43AM: WICKET! OLLIE POPE THROWS HIS WICKET AWAY
What a bizarre decision from Ollie Pope that is.
The England No.3, with a half-century in his sights, heaves a Cameron Green bouncer to deep midwicket where Steve Smith is waiting on the boundary rope.
Smith calmly takes a good outfield catch, ending Pope’s stay on 42.
England are now 2-188. I get it’s Bazball and all, but that seemed like a totally unnecessary shot from Pope.
Joe Root comes to the crease. England’s best batsman in the first Test, he comes in with a fantastic platform laid.
1.30AM: CUMMINS FORCED FROM FIELD FOR CONCUSSION TEST
Pat Cummins was briefly forced from the field after being struck on the head.
The Australian captain copped a glancing blow while trying to stop a drive from Ben Duckett, with the ball bouncing awkwardly and striking him near the right temple.
Cummins appears fine, but jogged off the field for a concussion test, replaced in the field by Matt Renshaw.
Cummins was seen just beyond the boundary rope, applying an ice pack to the area around his eye, before returning an over later.
1.20AM: GREEN UNSETTLES DUCKETT AFTER TEA
Cameron Green was introduced straight after the tea break, and he’s had an immediate impact with the short-ball.
He opened the session with a bouncer, signalling the role he’ll be taking on here. And in his second over, Green strikes Ben Duckett on the glove with another searing short ball – it balloons over Steve Smith at first slip, and lands safely.
But Duckett is quick to rip the glove off and inspect his digits. That one hurt. And it’s the first time, really, he’s looked unsettled by any of Australia’s quicks today.
Nathan Lyon, on the other hand, is engaged in an intriguing battle with Duckett, drawing two false shots in an over – the first an inside edge onto the pad that ever-so-briefly looked an LBW chance, and later a paddle sweep that falls short of Josh Hazlewood at leg gully.
1.00AM: WHERE’S BOLAND? AUSSIE QUICKS GO MISSING
As play resumes after the tea break, it’s not just the cloud coverage that has gone missing at Lord’s – Australia’s fast bowlers have had a miserable afternoon to date in the London sun.
With conditions rapidly changing to favour the batsmen, seemingly as soon as Australia’s last wicket fell, England’s batsman are starting to gain the ascendancy – and that’s before their Bazball middle order murderer’s row of Root, Brook, Stokes and Bairstow arrive at the crease.
Of most concern for Australia will be the lack of penetration from their trio of star bowlers, with Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood in particular both struggling to make an impact and leaking runs.
The decision to drop Scott Boland – who went for 5 runs an over at Edgbaston, but has a career economy rate of 2.6 – was criticised at the toss, and those murmurs will grow louder if the wickets don’t arrive after tea.
Starc’s sixth over went for 16 runs, and his economy rate has since ballooned to 7.85 per over – the most expensive of the Australian bowlers, shading the normally miserly Josh Hazlewood’s 7.40.
“You’re not looking for Mitchell Starc to bowl defensively, you’re expecting him to pitch it up,” offers ex-England skipper Michael Atherton.
TEA: ENGLAND LEAD BRAVE FIGHTBACK
Another fine session for England, and plenty to ponder for Pat Cummins and the Australian team at the tea break.
It’s been England’s day so far, and after adding 132 runs at better than five an over they’ll tuck into some scones safe in the knowledge that they’re right back in the contest here.
After a disastrous opening day, England have done everything possible to wrestle control back from Australia.
Just the one wicket fell in the session after lunch, with Zak Crawley brilliantly stumped off Nathan Lyon for 48 after putting on 91 for the first wicket.
Since his exit, Ben Duckett (62) and Ollie Pope (32) have added 54 to consolidate England’s fightback.
“They’re in control in this innings. Australia will need to mix things up,” suggests Mark Taylor.
12.35AM: ENGLAND BACKING UP BOLD PRE-TEST PREDICTION
If you talk the talk, you’ve got to walk the walk.
And Zak Crawley was strutting all over Lord’s with a Viv Richards-like swagger before throwing his wicket away to Nathan Lyon.
But it’s clear that this England team has a fairly unshakeable belief.
Ahead of the second Test, and in a bullish response to Australia’s escape at Edgbaston, Crawley boasted that he felt not only would England win the second Test – they’d do so by 150 runs.
“I think we’ll win,” he said.
“I think it will suit us a bit more, that pitch. So I think we’ll win by, I don’t know, 150 runs?”
Given England then sent Australia in first, the 150-run winning margin is off the table for the hosts, but despite watching the tourists post 416 England have shown no sign of wilting.
Instead, they’ve rattled along at a better clip than Australia – and lost fewer wickets in bringing up their first 100 runs.
In Australia’s defence, the wicket is presenting precious few gremlins with the cloud cover dissipating.
“The wicket looks totally different to what it was yesterday morning,” said Aaron Finch.
12.20AM: AUSSIES TURN TO UMPIRES FOR HELP
Australia have requested a new ball, after Crawley and Duckett bashed the first one out of shape in their punishing opening partnership.
This has been a tactic England used to good effect in the first Test – when the ball stopped (or never started) swinging, you go to the umpire and see if it passes the ‘two ring’ test, determining whether it can be replaced.
Typically, the new ball (to be selected from a group of similarly aged six-stichers) is more likely to take to swing and movement.
We’ll see if it has any impact, although Pat Cummins immediately dials up a cracker of a yorker which beats Ollie Pope all ends up, but lands wide of the off-stump.
Ben Duckett, meanwhile, is on the verge of his maiden Ashes half-century. He’s unbeaten on 44, with England 1-108.
MIDNIGHT: EMBATTLED POPE FIGHTS THROUGH PAIN
Ollie Pope is out in the middle for England, which is a huge bonus for the home side.
Pope spent almost the entire Australian innings in the dressing room after injuring his right shoulder – which has troubled him greatly in the past.
England were always confident he would be able to take his place in the batting line-up, but it wasn’t always clear that he would come in at first drop.
“Australia will know there’s an injury there. The slips will be talking. Pressure is on here. Australia want two,” says Kevin Pietersen.
11.50PM: WICKET! LYON BREAKS THROUGH
A wicket out of nowhere!
England seemed in cruise control, but Nathan Lyon has managed to pull off a key breakthrough – removing Zak Crawley just shy of his half-century.
And it’s some exceptional glovework from Alex Carey that seals the deal, with Crawley drawn down the wicket, and beaten down the legside, before the Australian keeper quickly gathers and breaks the stumps.
It’s actually taken a piece of Crawley’s thigh pad – making the stumping even more impressive – and the England opener goes for 48.
If it was to be anyone, Lyon seemed the most likely. The wicket has already dried out substantially, and it’s taking turn.
Lyon will be the key for Australia once more.
11.40PM: 14-YEAR BEST SPELLS DOOM FOR AUSSIES
This is starting to become a concern for Australia, with England compiling their best Ashes opening partnership on home soil in 14 years.
After 16 overs Zak Crawley is on the verge of a half century, Ben Duckett isn’t far behind him and England are 0-80 – with the runs coming rapidly.
England's highest Ashes opening partnership since 2009 (also Lord's when Cook and Strauss put on 196) #Ashes2023
— Chris Stocks (@StocksC_cricket) June 29, 2023
And the chances are few and far between.
Alex Carey is hopeful of a stumping, off Ben Duckett, and while it is a sharp piece of glovework the England opener’s back foot is always behind the line.
11.20PM: AUSTRALIA BLITZED BY ENGLISH OPENERS
It’s easy going for England at the minute – they’ve picked up the tempo and brought up a half-century opening stand in the 11th over.
Zak Crawley, after a patient start, has opened the arms and taken the long stick to Mitchell Starc in particular.
It’s been an unhappy return to the Test scene for Starc, who leaked 29 runs from his first five overs of this innings – with just the one unsuccessful LBW appeal to show for it.
Australia must be wondering where the clouds, that hung so ominously over Lord’s for the first four sessions of this Test, have gone.
Without them, this looks another belter of a batting wicket that is offering precious little for the seam-bowlers.
In the 12th over, Pat Cummins turns to Nathan Lyon. Lyon was superb in Birmingham in the first Test, and will again play a pivotal role.
11.00PM: HOW ‘RUSTY’ SMITH IS TAKING OVER THE WORLD
It’s been a bit of a tentative start to the middle session, with Australia not getting much love from this wicket and England’s openers starting very patiently.
Zak Crawley brings up the first boundary of his innings, a wonderful straight drive off Pat Cummins, in perhaps a signal of what is to come.
But while we wait for some fireworks, do yourself a favour and read this gem of an article from Crash Craddock on how Australia’s first innings centurion, Steve Smith, inspired the Bluey cartoon which is taking cricket to a global (read as: American) audience.
10.42PM: PRESSURE ON AUSSIE QUICKS AS SUN COMES OUT
The second session is underway, and England will resume their innings – still 403 in arrears of Australia’s first innings.
The concern for Pat Cummins and his pace allies, is the overhead conditions have deserted them.
Suddenly it’s sunny skies above Lord’s.
“What we’re seeing right now could be the very best of the batting conditions;” warns Ricky Ponting.
England need to build on their positive morning and deliver a big session here if they’re to be any chance of forcing a positive result in this Test.
LUNCH: ENGLAND WIN THE MORNING, AFTER SMITH’S SPECIAL TON
England will be quite pleased with their morning session, despite being behind in the game at lunch on day two.
They knocked Australia’s final five wickets before the main break, and then had Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett safely navigate four overs.
England reach the break at 0-13, but trail Australia by 403. The morning was also memorable for Steve Smith, who posted 110 – his 12th Ashes century.
Australia will be a bit disappointed to have failed to fully capitalise on their strong position late on day one, losing their final seven wickets for an even 100 runs.
Now they turn to the pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood to do some damage with the ball – although the clouds which helped Jimmy Anderson hoop the ball around have mysteriously disappeared.
9.45PM: STARC SPEARHEADS AUSSIE ATTACK
A short burst here for Australia at the England openers before lunch.
Not much to gain for Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, but plenty to lose with just four or five overs to be bowled before the main break.
Mitchell Starc, recalled in place of Scott Boland for this Test, gets the new ball – with captain Pat Cummins.
With 416 on the board to play with, Australia can afford to be aggressive with the ball as they look to unsettle an equally aggressive England batting line-up.
Fight fire with fire and all that!
ALL OUT! AUSTRALIA BOWLED OUT FOR 416
Josh Hazlewood is the last man to fall, for four. But Australia have put on a sizeable first-innings total of 416, thanks largely to Steve Smith’s impressive 110.
Now comes the really interesting part of today: how will England’s aggressive approach work on this wicket?
Australia have played well, no doubt, but England have been able to elicit a serious amount of swing over the past two days – just without luck.
Their most effective bowler, Josh Tongue, was also their quickest. That should encourage Australia’s paceman, who have an edge in that department over Anderson, Robinson and co.
But the sun has burst through the clouds, and it looks like batting this afternoon could be a little more friendly than it was under leaden skies yesterday.
Stick around. This could get feisty!
9.20PM: WICKET! LYON DEPARTS AFTER STEERING AUSTRALIA PAST 400
After steering Australia to victory last week, Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins have helped Australia past 400 after Steve Smith’s dismissal.
The tailend pairing – including one of Australia’s trio of No.11s, according to Ollie Robinson – have stunted England’s bowlers after the Smith wicket.
Lyon has just pulled him away for four with the shot of the morning – before falling into the trap off the England villain.
Lyon hooks into the deep, where he is caught by Josh Tongue (who can’t keep himself out of the game at this point).
He goes for 7, and England should be batting soon. Australia 9-408.
9.05PM: WICKET! SMITH FALLS!
The drinks break brings a wicket!
And Josh Tongue has three – this one is the big one, however. Steve Smith departs for 110, well caught by Ben Duckett at gully off a flashing drive.
That’s a very sharp catch from an England team that has been disappointing in the field this series.
“It’s a disappointment, but another superb innings. You can tell he wanted more,” says former Australian captain Mark Taylor.
“He just wants to bat forever.”
That leaves Australia 8-393, and reunites the Edgbaston heroes as Nathan Lyon joins Cummins in the middle.
9.00PM: AUSTRALIA EYE 400 AS BIG TOTAL LOOMS
After the early flurry of wickets, Steve Smith and Pat Cummins have steadied the Australian innings with a 35-run stand to take them to the brink of 400 after the first hour of play.
Smith has been busy this morning, adding 25 runs, to bring up yet another Ashes century, while Cummins has picked up where he left off following his Edgbaston heroics.
400 would’ve been the first target on Australia’s minds this morning, but the opportunity to put more overs into England’s tired bowlers will be tempting – as would a monster first innings total.
One interested observer in the Lord’s crowd: former Australian captain Justin Langer.
8.47PM: SMITH REACHES 32ND TEST CENTURY
We are not worthy. If there were any doubters following his first-Test failures in Edgbaston, Steve Smith took little time in reminding them of his greatness at Lord’s.
The Australian vice-captain hits Jimmy Anderson through the covers for a boundary to bring up yet another milestone – again adding his name to the record books.
“We witnessing greatness in front of our eyes – one of the all-time greats,” says former England captain Nasser Hussain.
It is his 32nd Test century, his 12th against England – leaving him trailing only Sir Donald Bradman in the terms of Ashes centuries – and it has put Australia in a commanding position in the second Test.
Needing 15 runs at the start of the day’s play, Smith peeled off 12 of those runs in boundaries in quick succession – before dragging out the final run in an agonising wait across two overs.
8.40PM: SMITH MOVES TO 99 AFTER QUICK FLURRY
Steve Smith is doing it in a hurry now!
A trio of boundaries quickly takes him from 87 to 99, and within reach of his 12th Ashes ton – and 32nd overall.
The fall of Carey and Starc in quick time looks to have sped him up a touch.
8.30PM: WICKET! AUSSIE TAIL EXPOSED
Mitchell Starc comes, and goes.
He hit a boundary with his first delivery – but lasted only 10 in total before flashing at a wider delivery from Jimmy Anderson.
He takes a thick edge, and Jonny Bairstow takes a solid catch.
He goes for 6. And in comes first-Test hero Pat Cummins.
Cummins joins Steve Smith on 87, who will now want to dominate the strike and push his way towards a century – while nudging along Australia’s first innings tail.
8.15PM: WICKET! CAREY FALLS EARLY AFTER BRIEF CAMEO
England have some DRS revenge – and it has removed Alex Carey for 22.
The keeper-batsman started brightly this morning, hammering a couple of boundaries to push Australia past 350.
But he becomes Stuart Broad’s first victim of the Test, trapped in front before being given not out. Ben Stokes opts to send it upstairs, and despite some concerns about the height, it is shown to be crashing into all three stumps.
After their DRS struggles yesterday, that is a big wicket for England. They are into the Australian tail now, starting with the recalled Mitchell Starc.
8.10PM: ENGLAND WOE AS VICE-CAPTAIN REMAINS SIDELINED
A new day, but the same problem for England vice-captain Ollie Pope.
The No.3 batsman was forced from the field early in Australia’s innings after suffering a shoulder injury in the field.
While diving to save a boundary off Marnus Labuschagne, Pope jolted his troublesome right shoulder and immediately left for treatment, failing to return.
England are again fielding with a replacement, with Pope back in the dressing room, but he is expected to pad up when it’s England’s turn to bat.
Just asked Ollie Pope if he’s ok to bat and he said yes. Good news for England at Lord’s #Ashespic.twitter.com/GdxbTulviP
— Matthew Stadlen (@MatthewStadlen) June 29, 2023
8PM: RAIN CLEARS, AUSTRALIA EYE HUGE TARGET
After a morning of rain and gloom, I have the magic words for you: we have started on time.
The skies do look mildly terrifying – dark and thick with clouds. That’s terrifying both in the sense that, for Steve Smith and Alex Carey, they’re bowler-friendly but also because rain does not seem too far away.
But Jimmy Anderson will start to Smith to open day two.
And after that? How many runs do Australia need from here? Another 150 runs would push Australia right on the cusp of 500, a mark that would be extraordinary having been sent in on a seam-friendly wicket.
They’d certainly take it, but even a first target of 400 would be firmly in their sights in this morning session, weather permitting.
7.45PM: SMITH ON CUSP OF (MORE) GREATNESS
Stop us if you’ve heard this before, but Steve Smith is not just incredibly good at cricket – he’s also on the cusp of a little bit more history.
I’ll let CODE Sport’s Jacob Kuriype take it from here, to run you through some of the milestones in front of Smith in the first session of play today.
“Another 15 runs to his overnight score will see Smith move to equal second for the most Ashes centuries ever, level with England’s Jack Hobbs (12) and behind only the incomparable Sir Don Bradman (19).
“If he does get there, Smith’s 12 Ashes tons would have come across 34 Tests and 59 innings, markedly quicker than Hobbs who played 71 innings across his 41 Ashes Tests.
“The century would also be Smith’s 32nd in all Tests, taking him to equal second for Australians alongside Steve Waugh and behind only Ricky Ponting (41).”
7.30PM: WEATHER CLEARING, CLOUDS REMAIN
Whisper it… but there could be some optimistic signs at Lord’s. They are looking to start on time.
The teams are out in the middle for a much-needed warm-up in the cold conditions, and while the hover cover remains next to the pitch, there’s a sense of optimism, despite the ever-present threat of rain.
There is, however, a lot of cloud cover hanging over the famous ground – something which should be cause for concern for Australia’s unbeaten pair, Steve Smith and Alex Carey.
Batting looks like it could be better this afternoon… but if Smith and Carey are still in the middle by then, England will be in a deep hole.
7.00PM: BIZARRE THEORY BEHIND ENGLAND’S LORD’S SHAMBLES
Australia loves Lord’s – at this point that’s just a bona fide fact.
And it’s not just Steve Smith, who is unbeaten on 85 and already owns a Test double-century at the ground.
Australia has lost just three Ashes Tests against England since the 1800s – two in the past 15 years, and a third in 1934.
Outside of those occasions, the Home of Cricket has been a barren ground for England against Australia.
And the BBC’s Henry Moeran has a theory: because it is too quiet.
Essentially the polar opposite of the opening Test venue, Edgbaston, where the raucous Hollies Stand creates a hostile atmosphere across al five days, the Lord’s crowd is far more sedate.
England fan group the Barmy Army traditionally has a trumpeter to lead its chants, but instruments are banned from the ground, creating a far different atmosphere.
And it plays a role.
“With a generally quieter atmosphere (no instruments allowed, for example), is the Lord’s experience too comfortable for visiting sides?” asked Moeran.
6.30PM: GRIM FORECAST FACES AUSSIES
After a dominant opening day, Australia would be keen to twist the knife early on day two at Lord’s.
Unfortunately, the English weather Gods have different ideas.
It’s wet and dreary in London right now, with steady rain falling throughout the morning, and more precipitation on the radar.
Steve Smith will resume on 85, with a 32nd Test century in his sights, alongside Alex Carey (11 not out).
4PM: SECOND TO BRADMAN: SMITH’S RAREFIED AIR
By Jacob Kuriype
After the rarest of twin failures in the series opener, Steve Smith is back in familiar territory on the cusp of Ashes history.
Smith will resume play on day two of the second Test on 85, opposite Alex Carey (11), with the Australians on course for a big first innings total at 5-339.
Another 15 runs to his overnight score will see Smith move to equal second for the most Ashes centuries ever, level with England’s Jack Hobbs (12) and behind only the incomparable Sir Don Bradman (19).
There is every chance the Australian will have to wait for his chance to bring up the century, with showers expected through the morning.
If he does get there, Smith’s 12 Ashes tons would have come across 34 Tests and 59 innings, markedly quicker than Hobbs who played 71 innings across his 41 Ashes Tests.
The century would also be Smith’s 32nd in all Tests, taking him to equal second for Australians alongside Steve Waugh and behind only Ricky Ponting (41).
At stumps on day one, Smith’s career Ashes run tally sat at 3151. That makes him the fifth highest run-scorer in Ashes history, but he could leapfrog Waugh (3173) and Allan Border (3222) to third if he carries on his form from overnight.
The match has already seen the Australian great celebrate one significant milestone as he went past 9000 career Test runs. In terms of innings played, only Kumar Sangakkara (172 innings) has reached the landmark quicker than Smith (174).
Smith is currently Australia’s fourth greatest Test run scorer, behind Waugh (10,927), Border (11,174) and Ponting (13,378).
Sent out to bat, the Australians made the most of ill-disciplined bowling and sloppy fielding from the hosts, with David Warner (66) and Travis Head (77) both making half-centuries.
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