Ashes 2023 second Test LIVE updates: Labuschagne and Smith ...

Travis Head has taken a liking to Ollie Robinson. Yes, we know Head loves to play an attacking brand of cricket, but I think it’s an intelligent strategy, particularly after a wicket. Two fours - one through point and the other towards mid-wicket.

Australia don’t want to let Robinson - or any England pace bowlers for that matter - dictate terms after Labuschagne losing his wicket.

That’s 10 runs off the over, courtesy of some clever and calculated cricket shots from Head, who made scores of 50 and 16 in Birmingham during the first Test.

Australia 3-221

Travis Head bats on day one at Lord’s. Credit: AP

A magnificent cut shot from Travis Head helps Australia bring up the 200.

It begs the question: are Australia on top?

Objectively, yes, Australia would definitely have taken 3-200 after being sent in.

But England are by no means out of this Test. If they can snare another wicket or two, they’ll be right in the hunt to bowl Australia out for under 350. “They’re nowhere near this game,” argues Kevin Pietersen.

The next 90 minutes of play is crucial.

Whack. Head rocks back and cuts through cover. Bad ball from Robinson, who doesn’t finish the set off the way he would have wanted.

Australia 3-209

Steve Smith. Credit: Reuters

Smith has his heart in his mouth for a split second as he leaves a ball that hits him on the pad. Not to worry, as it’s going over the stumps. Given not out anyway.

This is the ninth time these two have chalked up a century partnership in Test cricket. Their biggest was the 251 runs they made against the West Indies in Perth last year.

England with the “worst possible start”, according to Andrew Strauss, as Robinson gets hit for four by Smith towards deep square leg.

“England look flat,” says Nasser Hussain.

Australia 2-194

As the bright mid-afternoon sun burnt away the cloud and slowly turned the greenish pitch yellow, Australia’s batsmen continued to reinforce the notion that it was a good toss to lose.

From a 73-run opening stand that soaked up the whole first session, to David Warner’s second-highest score in more than a year (66), and positive starts from first Test stragglers Steve Smith (38 not out) and Marnus Labuschagne (45 not out), Australia held sway on 2-190 at tea.

During the first Test at Edgbaston, both of Australia’s most highly ranked batsmen failed twice. Smith took 59 balls to reach 16 on the lifeless pitch.

On Wednesday, he was 16 off just 13 balls then hit Stuart Broad for successive boundaries.

When Smith flicked England captain Ben Stokes through mid-wicket to the boundary, scooting to 32, the busy batsman went past 9000 Test runs from 174 innings.

Only Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara has made as many runs quicker, doing so in 172 innings.

Stuart Broad appeals unsuccessfully for the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne. Credit: AP

Marnus Labuschagne (45) and Steve Smith (38) have put on 94 runs for the third wicket to put Australia in an excellent position after being sent in.

If you’re an England fan, it might be time for another drink.

With no frontline spinner, for the first time in Ben Stokes’ short time as England skipper, Root takes the ball.

His off breaks served England relatively well in the first Test (0-15 and 1-43). Root removed Alex Carey for 20, caught and bowled, in Birmingham.

It’s a tidy start, with six dot balls to start. Applause from the crowd.

At the other end, Josh Tongue is bending his back, in his 11th over. He’s been England’s quickest and best bowler today. Has done a decent job of squeezing Australia’s batters, once he he got his radar after an ugly first three overs.

The big names of Anderson and Broad have gone wicketless. So too has Ollie Robinson. England certainly haven’t cashed in on this Lord’s pitch.

Australia 2-182

Highest run-scorers in Test cricketCredit: ESPN Cricinfo