TOP SPIN AT THE TEST: Joe Root forces his way into the all-time top 10 Test run scorers

TOP SPIN AT THE TEST: Joe Root forces his way into the all-time top 10 Test run scorers, Steve Smith completes a 12th century against England, and the hosts are stumped for a FOURTH time

England began the second day by taking the final five wickets needed to bring an end to Australia’s innings, with the visitors ending on 416 all out. 

The response looked to begin in strong fashion, with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett putting on 91 before the former fell to a rather tame Nathan Lyon dismissal, being stumped as he came down the ground. 

Ollie Pope and Duckett then looked to continue the rampant batting, before yet another soft wicket, this time for the new vice-captain, with Joe Root following soon after for just 10 runs as England fell for the short ball ploy.  

Ben Stokes played an uncharacteristically restrained 17 from 57 while Harry Brook continued to entertain with 45 off 51 as they reached the close on 278 for the loss of four, setting up a thrilling third day. 

Here, Mail Sport’s LAWRENCE BOOTH shares the key statistics from the second day of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s.

England finished a tense second day on 278 for the loss of four wickets on Thursday at Lord’s

Joe Root may have managed just 10 runs but went into the all-time top scorers list on 11,175

Joe Root may have managed just 10 runs but went into the all-time top scorers list on 11,175

Joe Root’s innings of 10 at least forced him into the top 10 Test run-scorers of all time, four ahead of former Australian captain Allan Border’s tally of 11,174.

Earlier, Steve Smith completed his 12th Test century against England. 

Only two players have made more hundreds against a single opponent: Don Bradman scored 19 against England, and Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar 13 against West Indies. 

England’s Jack Hobbs also made 12 Ashes centuries.

Steve Smith notched a ton for the 12th time against England - only Don Bradman and Sunil Gavaskar have more against a single opponent

Steve Smith notched a ton for the 12th time against England – only Don Bradman and Sunil Gavaskar have more against a single opponent

In his first four Test innings at Lord’s – including a match against Pakistan in 2010 – Smith managed one, 12, two and one. 

His last four innings here have been 215 and 58 (in 2015), 92 (in 2019) and now 110.

Of England’s 24 wickets in this series, four have been to stumpings – the most in a home Ashes since 1993.

The stand of 91 between Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett was England’s highest for the first wicket in the Ashes since Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook began with 98 at Sydney in 2010-11.

Zak Crawley's stumping was England's fourth of the series already - more than any home Ashes since 1993

Zak Crawley’s stumping was England’s fourth of the series already – more than any home Ashes since 1993



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