Just Stop Oil crash Ashes as England’s Jonny Bairstow hauls protester off pitch
Rookie seamer Josh Tongue struck twice in his first Ashes appearance, but the rest of the England attack drew a blank as Australia took control on day one of the second Test at Lord’s.
Tongue justified his return to the side as he bowled with pace and purpose at the home of cricket, clipping Usman Khawaja’s bails as he left the ball on the stroke of lunch and later ramming one through David Warner’s defences to remove him for 66.
But they were isolated moments of joy for the home side, who asked Australia to bat in awkward conditions only to see them post 190 for two at tea. Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne were both ominously set at the break, having contributed just 35 in four innings in their side’s series-opening victory at Edgbaston.
The day began with a botched protest from Just Stop Oil supporters: just one over into the innings, two men invaded the field carrying bags of orange paint dust but where bundled off the pitch with the notable assistance of England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow, who lifted one of the activists off his feet and personally delivered him to security staff on the boundary edge.
Follow the score and latest updates from Edgbaston below:
England vs Australia: Second Ashes Test, day one updates
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Australia 327-5 (78), Smith 77, Carey 8, Robinson 1-77 (19)
A charming bit of timing from Alex Carey, calm and in control as he pushes an Ollie Robinson ball straight of mid-off. Josh Tongue lollops after it, but the batters stroll back for three.
Robinson seeks an inswinger, switching around the seam to try and attack Steve Smith’s pads, but not quite finding the movement he desires. A short nip-backer threatens to cramp Smith a touch, but he deftly drops it into the offside for a run having curtailed his pull.
Harry Latham-Coyle28 June 2023 18:31
Australia 323-5 (77), Smith 76, Carey 5, Root 2-16 (6)
Root persists with that around the wicket angle. Alex Carey is typically good against spin, particularly proficient sweeping, and rocks back confidently here to cut England’s offie for a single to pinch the strike.
England hustling through to try and get to that new Dukes.
Harry Latham-Coyle28 June 2023 18:28
Australia 320-5 (76), Smith 75, Carey 3, Robinson 1-73 (18)
That Root double strike rather changes the complexion of the day. England would love to burgle another before the close – four overs until the second new ball, which I expect they’ll have a quick go with before stumps at just before ten to seven BST.
Harry Latham-Coyle28 June 2023 18:26
WICKET! Cameron Green (c) Anderson (b) Root for 0, Australia 316-5
And another falls! Incredible stuff – two wickets in the over and Root is celebrating again as Green lashes one high and horrible, a routine catch for Anderson.
Alex Carey comes in and lets the last ball drift wide. Quite the over for England.
Karl Matchett28 June 2023 18:24
WICKET! Travis Head (c) Bairstow (b) Root for 77, Australia 316-4
Joe Root comes in – and his second ball claims a stunning and vital wicket!
It spins away and definitely catches an edge, Jonny Bairstow doing the rest to catch and clatter the wicket for good measure.
Travis Head gone for 77 and an important partnership broken up.
Karl Matchett28 June 2023 18:21
Australia 315-3 (74), Smith 73, Head 77, Robinson 1-69 (17)
Travis Head’s aggression has forced a change of bowling. Ollie Robinson comes on to replace Josh Tongue.
Steve Smith works the first ball away for a single before Head leans into a fine drive through cover for a couple. Robinson bowling right now means he won’t be taking the new ball which will be left for Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad.
It’s available in six overs time.
Mike Jones28 June 2023 18:13
Australia 312-3 (73), Smith 72, Head 75, Root 0-12 (4)
Steve Smith pushes Joe Root into the legside and takes a single to bring the dangerous Head back on strike.
Head dances down the track and lifts Root over mid-on for four more runs. That’s his 14th boundary in this innings.
Root limits the damage with some smart, defensive bowling to close out the over.
Mike Jones28 June 2023 18:09
Australia 307-3 (72), Smith 71, Head 71, Tongue 2-88 (18)
This is poor and predictable from Josh Tongue. He’s bowling short to Travis Head who waits on the back foot and smokes him to the boundary at long-on for four.
He then takes a single with a powerful pull to deep midwicket.
Smith is then hit on the pads, right in front of the stumps, and England decide not to review after the decision goes against them.
With Head back on strike Tongue bowls it short (shock) and the left-hander nails him to the legside boundary. Wonderful batting.
Mike Jones28 June 2023 18:06
Australia 293-3 (71), Smith 70, Head 62, Root 0-7 (3)
Joe Root comes back into the attack and it worked away from five runs shared between Smith and Head. Ben Stokes will have an eye on the new ball which is available in nine overs time.
Mike Jones28 June 2023 18:02
Australia 288-3 (70), Smith 66, Head 61, Tongue 2-78 (17)
There’s 55 minutes left in the day. Things could yet get worse for England as these two close in on another 100 partnership. Travis Head’s strike rate is over 100.
Glorious! Steve Smith punches Tongue, on the up, through the covers for four more runs.
Mike Jones28 June 2023 17:58