Australia’s Mitchell Johnson, centre, celebrates with teammates after dismissing England’s Joe Root in the second Ashes Test at Lord’s.Philip Brown/Reuters
Australia posted an impressive first innings total of 566-8 declared in the second Ashes Test at Lord's on Friday and then ripped through the top order, reducing England to 30-4 at one stage.
Alastair Cook and Ben Stokes led a modest recovery, guiding England to 85-4 at the close of the second day but leaving the home team with a mountain to climb to save the match. Stokes gained in confidence to reach 38 by the close, with captain and opener Cook on 21.
Bowling as if desperate for revenge after an embarrassing 169-run defeat in the first test in Cardiff, the Australian bowlers tore into the England batting.
The Lord's wicket was criticized as placid for the first two days as Australia accumulated a big score. England's top order found it anything but easy-going as the top four were blown away within 10 overs.
Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood were all rampant, peppering England with full-length deliveries that swung and nipped back at them.
Opener Adam Lyth lasted two balls until he wafted lazily at a Starc ball, Gary Ballance accumulated a lucky 23 before Johnson bowled him, exposing a total lack of footwork, Ian Bell was out second ball missing a Hazlewood fast ball and in-form batsman Joe Root managed just one run before he also played a lazy shot at Johnson and was caught behind by debutant Peter Nevill.
All that in 9.1 overs and England was 30-4, still 536 behind.