England v Australia 5th Ashes Test day 2 review: Smith, Marsh ensure rare dominating day for Australia

England v Australia 5^th Ashes Test day 2 review: Smith Marsh, ensure rare dominating day for Australia: What an unpredictable series it has been. Australia who looked dismal in the last two Tests showed glimpses of Lord’s as England crumbled meekly to 107 for eight in reply to 481 to put the touring side firmly on course for victory in the final Ashes Test after a dramatic second day at The Oval on Friday. The Aussies showed application, self-belief, and determination while England did not know what hit them.

Smith and Voges began solidly as Australia threatened to play out another wicket-less morning session. Stokes, though, ended the 146-run stand when he had Voges lbw for 76, despite a review. Smith showed good judgement to leave the balls outside off while playing some lovely drives in between. He eventually progressed to another century, his 11^th in Tests.

Moeen Ali struck twice in the last over before Lunch and dented Australia. He first dismissed Peter Nevill, who attempted a pull shot but the ball brushed his glove and keeper Buttler held onto a fantastic catch. Two balls later, Johnson was out for a duck.

Strarc though supported Smith brilliantly, getting to a quick fire 45 ball half century in the process. Smith fell on 143 soon after Starc reached his milestone. Steve Finn, who got his second wicket of the match, broke the solid 91-run stand between the two. Earlier, it was Finn, who had picked up Smith’s wicket, but off a no-ball on 92. It did not take long for England to wrap up the innings once Smith departed. Two overs later Starc fell, Finn picked up his third by removing Peter Siddle on 1 to end the Australian innings at 481.

England had a tall task ahead as this was a very good first innings total. They had to grind hard. Spinner Nathan Lyon bowled England captain Alastair Cook for 22 just before tea to start the rot.

England then lost Bell, Root, Bairstow, and Jos Buttler in quick succession and slipped to 84/6 from 46/2 soon after the tea break. Siddle got his second when he dismissed Bell by cleaning him up for 10. In the very next over, Root was dismissed by Mitchell Marsh. Australia went for a review for caught behind which was successful courtesy the Real Time Snicko.

After some brief resistance Bairstow and Buttler fell in successive overs as well. Bairstow pulled straight into the hands of Lyon at deep backward square leg off Johnson and Buttler was bowled by Lyon as he missed a loose drive and the ball sneaked in through the bat-pad gap. Stuart Broad edged Marsh to Adam Voges at slip for a duck before Moeen Ali and Mark Wood hung in to take the hosts to the close without any further loss, still 374 runs behind their opponents. The day ended as a sorry one for England and a cheerful one for Australia as Cook’s men were reeling at 107/8 at stumps.

Siddle bowled with aggression and so did Mitch Marsh. On flat decks, you need to hit the pitch hard and generate good bounce and swing, and the Aussie bowlers did just that. If you are an English fan look away from the scorecard. This wasn’t an unplayable pitch but as we have seen in the series once a side gets on top the other one shows very little resistance.

Australia put up a thoroughly professional show and hold a firm grip on the proceedings at close of day 2. A win looks inevitable for them but the men from down under must be thinking if this performance had come in earlier, the story of the series could have been different.

Brief Scores:

Australia – 1^st innings 481; (Smith 143, Warner 85; Finn 3-90)

England – 1^st innings 107/8; (Cook 22, Marsh 3-18; Siddle 2-18)