Ashes 2019: Jonny Bairstow finds form at last and other talking points from day two at Lord's

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  • An enthralling battle between bat and ball greeted a packed house at Lord’s on day two of the second Ashes Test between England and Australia after what had been a miserable opening day washed out completely due to rain.

    Jofra Archer made his much-awaited Test debut for England on the second day but the Barbados-born pacer had to wait his turn to get into the action with Australia skipper Tim Paine electing to bowl first.

    It was the Aussies who were on top in the first-half of the day with England struggling at 138-6 at one stage but the hosts persevered through a lower-order fightback to ultimately post a 258-run total in their first innings,

    In reply, the visitors lost the wicket of David Warner and reached 30-1 before stumps were drawn.

    Here, we take a look at the major talking points from day two at Lord’s.

    Burns makes most of his two lives, Roy disappoints

    Having cracked a gritty ton on his Ashes debut at Edgbaston, England opener Rory Burns followed it up with a half-century at Lord’s on day two although he did have to ride his luck again.

    The left-hander was dropped twice on his way to a fifty with Usman Khawaja giving him the first reprieve at gully before Australia skipper Tim Paine spilled another catch behind the stumps.

    In the end, Burns’ plucky knock was ironically brought to an end by a stunning catch by Cameron Bancroft at short-leg after the opener attempted to fend a short-ball from Pat Cummins.

    Burns’ opening partner Jason Roy, however, did not fare so well with the right-hander caught-behind for a three-ball duck while trying to push at a delivery moving away from his body.

    Burns was dropped early into his innings by Khawaja.

    Burns was dropped early into his innings by Khawaja.

    Hazlewood justifies his inclusion

    Australia made just the one change to a winning combination with Josh Hazelwood coming in for James Pattinson and the seamer justified his inclusion with some excellent bowling throughout day two.

    Hazlewood got the visitors off to a roaring start with Roy’s early dismissal and he then put Australia firmly on top by trapping England skipper Joe Root on the pads. While the other Aussie bowlers struggled to come to grips with the Lord’s slope initially, Hazlewood was completely at home with his lateral movement giving the batsmen plenty of trouble.

    While it was an all-round effort from the Aussie bowlers in the end, Hazlewood was the clear pick among them and the one who troubled England’s batsmen the most. The 28-year-old sure loves playing at Lord’s and had picked up a five-wicket haul in his only previous Test appearance at the venue in 2015.

    Hazlewood was the pick of Aussie bowlers.

    Hazlewood was the pick of Aussie bowlers.

    Bairstow finds form at last

    With 16 runs in his last five Test innings and a batting average of less than 14 in 2019, the pressure was well and truly on Jonny Bairstow when he walked out to bat on day two.

    The Yorkshire man walked in to bat with England reeling at 136-6 and then soon saw Ben Stokes dismissed at the other end as things went from bad to worse for the hosts. Despite surviving a testing period early on, Bairstow dug in this time around and banished his horrendous form with a well-crafted half-century.

    The right-hander found an able ally in Chris Woakes with whom he forged a 72-run stand for the seventh wicket and his unbeaten knock was crucial in the hosts ultimately scaling the 250-run mark after being reduced to 138-6 at one stage.

    His innings of 52 along with the early dismissal of David Warner will give England some semblance of hope ahead of a crucial third day at the home of cricket.

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