England threaten to throw away dominant position as Ashes rivals trade blows

England threatened to throw away a dominant position after Ben Duckett’s 98 as the Ashes rivals exchanged blows on day two of the second Test.

On the day Lord’s turned Red for Ruth in aid of the Ruth Strauss Foundation, England raced to 91-0 and 188-1 as Duckett, Zak Crawley (48) and Ollie Pope (42) all made scores.

Losing Nathan Lyon to a calf injury also looked ominous for Australia but a barrage of short-pitched bowling rattled England, who lost three wickets in seven overs.

Harry Brook was also dropped as England, aiming to level the five-match series following a narrow defeat at Edgbaston, reached 278-4 at stumps.

Earlier in the day, Australia were bowled out for 416 as they lost their last seven wickets for 100 runs despite Steve Smith scoring a 13th Ashes century.

If England lacked intensity on day one – taking just five wickets in helpful bowling conditions – they responded well by bowling Australia out before lunch.

Stuart Broad trapped Alex Carey lbw in the second over of the day and James Anderson nicked off Mitchell Starc to claim his first wicket of the Test.

But England were unable to prevent Smith from registering his 32nd Test century, with the Australian becoming the third leading run-scorer in Ashes cricket in the process.

Smith eventually departed for 110 – Duckett taking a sharp catch to give Josh Tongue his third wicket – and Ollie Robinson dismissed Lyon and Josh Hazlewood to wrap up the innings.

England’s openers soon began to accelerate after surviving a tricky four-over period before lunch, with Crawley initially the aggressor, punishing Hazlewood and the expensive Starc with a flurry of boundaries.

Duckett, who failed twice at Edgbaston, had almost caught up with Crawley when the Kent opener was smartly stumped by Carey off Lyon for 48.

Another fluent partnership ensured England remained on top in the afternoon session as Duckett combined with Pope, who was not impaired by the shoulder injury that forced him off the field on day one.

The momentum was very much with England when influential spinner Lyon, playing his 100th Test, hobbled off with a calf injury, but Australia fought back with a short-ball barrage.

Green had Pope caught in the deep for 42 and thought he had dismissed Joe Root in the same over, only for a no-ball to save England’s No. 4.

Australia’s frustration was short-lived, though, as more short-pitched bowling accounted for Duckett just two runs short of his maiden Ashes century.

Root fell in similar fashion three overs later as Smith took a diving catch to give Starc his first wicket of the day and leave England 222-4.

Ben Stokes and Brook prevented any more damage – the latter surviving a drop on 25 to yet another pull shot – but have work to do on day three with England still 138 behind.

MORE : Ricky Ponting ‘very surprised’ by Australia decision for second Ashes Test

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