Ashes, 5th Test: Australia gain first-innings lead, lose three wickets
A total of 17 wickets fell on Day 2 of the ongoing fifth Ashes Test (Day/Night) at Bellerive Oval, Hobart. Australia compiled 303 after a phenomenal century by Travis Head put them in the driving seat. In reply, England were rolled over for 188. Australian skipper Pat Cummins took four wickets. Australia, who gained a precious first-innings lead, lost three wickets before stumps.
How did Day 2 pan out?
Australia resumed from their overnight score of 241/6 on Day 2. The likes of Mark Wood, Chris Woakes, and Stuart Broad did the damage as Australia finished on 303. However, Nathan Lyon scored some handy runs down the order (31). England were bundled out for 188, giving Australia a 115-run cushion. Cummins stood out with four wickets. Australia finished on 37/3 at stumps.
David Warner gets a pair
Australian opener David Warner registered another duck in the ongoing Test. Broad outfoxed him on the third delivery of the second innings. Ollie Robinson had dismissed Warner in the first innings. The latter faced 22 deliveries. Notably, Warner was the last Australian to record a pair in Test cricket. He registered two ducks in the 2019 Old Trafford Test.
Broad surpasses Sir Ian Botham
England pace spearhead Stuart Broad took three wickets for 59 runs in the first innings. By taking Warner's wicket on Day 2, Broad broke the long-standing record of Sir Ian Botham. He raced to 129 wickets in the Ashes, the most by an English bowler in the prestigious series. Botham had accounted for 128 wickets from 32 Tests in the Ashes.
Cummins was the standout bowler for Australia
Cummins was the pick of Australia's bowlers in the first innings. The Australian skipper took four wickets for 45 runs. Left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc scalped three wickets. He now has 55 wickets in Day/Night Tests. Meanwhile, Scott Boland and Cameron Green took a wicket apiece. Right-arm spinner Nathan Lyon didn't bowl at all in the first innings.
England started well in the second innings
Despite facing a deficit, England made a sublime start in the second innings. Broad, Woakes, and Wood removed Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, and Usman Khawaja, respectively, in quick succession. Australia managed just 37/3 in 19 overs before stumps. Notably, Broad conceded nine runs in six overs. The likes of Steven Smith (17*) and night-watchman Boland (3*) returned unbeaten on Day 2.
