Batsman David Warner endured a disappointing day, but Australia assumed an early command of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s.
The Australians moved to 30-1 at close of play, after limiting England to 258 all out.
Warner, who managed a mere two and eight in last week’s series opener at Edgbaston in Birmingham, perished for just three on Thursday. He earlier dropped a relatively straightforward catch.
The hard-hitting left-hander, who enjoyed a fine stretch of form at the World Cup and was prolific for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League earlier this year, is evidently struggling to readapt to the longest format of the international game.
This is his first Test series since last year’s tour of South Africa, when his involvement in ball-tampering resulted in a 12-month ban.
Warner wasn’t alone in dropping catches on day two in London. Gully fielder Usman Khawaja and wicketkeeper Time Paine also grassed opportunities. Half-centurion Rory Burns was the fortunate benefactor on both occasions.
Spinner Nathan Lyon, meanwhile, drew level with former Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee on 355 Test wickets. Lyon and Lillee are the country’s joint third-highest Test wicket-takers. Seamer Glenn McGrath and leg-spinner Shane Warne are first and second, respectively.
Burns’ 53 was England’s top score, while wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow shook off a poor run of form with 52. Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood was the day’s wicket-taker-in-chief en route to telling figures of 3-58, which included the dismissal of opener Jason Roy for a duck. Roy, like Warner, is failing to convert limited-overs success to a significant contribution at Test level.
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