Twitter Reactions: Australia's late riposte slows England's batting juggernaut on eventful second day of Lord's Test

The exhilarating action continued in the second Test of Ashes 2023 on Day 2 at Lord’s as Australia resumed their innings on 339/5. Steven Smith (85*) and Alex Carey (11*) continued to take Australia’s innings ahead. England struck early in the day as Stuart Broad got rid of Carey (22) early in the day. However, Smith continued his innings and brought up his 32^nd Test hundred with a lovely cover drive against Anderson.

Pat Cummins played another valuable knock lower down the order (22*) to give good support to Smith. However, after Smith got dismissed for 110, the other batters couldn’t contribute much as Australia got bundled out for 416 in the first innings. Josh Tongue (3/98) was the pick of the bowlers for England.

In reply, England got off to a brilliant start as openers Zak Crawley (48) and Ben Duckett added 91 runs for the first wicket. Lyon gave the first blow to England getting Crawley out stumped. Ollie Pope walked in next and added 97 runs for the second wicket with Duckett.

Seeing England in full control, Australia came up with a short ball ploy in the third session to unsettle the batters. The plan worked immediately as Pope (42) got dismissed trying to pull Cameron Green. Three balls later there was more drama to follow as Green further got Root dismissed when the batter was caught behind off a short ball. However much to his dismay, he overstepped giving Root a life.

England lost three wickets in the final session

At the other end, Duckett was closing in on his hundred but he also fell prey to the short ball ploy and holed out to David Warner at fine leg on 98. Root also couldn’t make the most of his reprieve as he once again became the victim of short-pitched delivery and hit one to Smith at square leg, who dived forward to complete a brilliant catch. Within a space of 45 balls, England went from 188/1 to 222/4.

After a flurry of wickets, Ben Stokes (17* off 57) and Harry Brook (44*) took England to stumps with their unbeaten 56-run stand. England finished Day 2 on 278/4 trailing by 138 runs. Meanwhile, Twitter was abuzz with reactions on another action-packed day of Test cricket.

Here are some of the top Tweets:

When a fast bowler, who’s also the Captain, and can hold the bat himself realises that no one is fully in control or comfortable against the short ball. Even the best in the world feel uncomfortable to quality short bowling to the right field placing.

Credit to Cummins for…

— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) June 29, 2023

#Ashes There’s certainly been a lack of diversity in the cricket for the past half hour or so 🤷🏽‍♂️ #EngvAus

— Alan Butcher (@abutch58) June 29, 2023

I really enjoy the way England play cricket. #cuetheabuse
Quicken the game up 1st day with attacking fields and take wickets. The. Bat and Score at 5/over, forced bowling and fielding changes and mostly entertain.

— David Hussey (@DavidHussey29) June 29, 2023

Ozzie bowlers nice and friendly these days 😂 where’s the aggression gone.. #timeshavechanged

— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) June 29, 2023

Pitch a little quicker today and enough movement still there for the Aussie bowlers with a yard of extra pace than England to be a handful.

— Mark Waugh (@juniorwaugh349) June 29, 2023

England failed to use the conditions on Day One at Lord’s. Win the toss and bowl and you expect a better reward for bowling first. Advantage increasingly going Australia’s way in this 2nd Test. England’s bowling with a one dimensional look about it #ENGvAUS #Ashes

— Alan Wilkins (@alanwilkins22) June 29, 2023

You bloody beauty smudge!! 💯 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

— Glenn Maxwell (@Gmaxi_32) June 29, 2023

Tuned in to watch Day 2 of the Ashes and am very touched and moved by what Andrew and Ruth Strauss have created - a fantastic foundation. ❤️R. @RuthStraussFdn @englandcricket @ECB_cricket

— Craig Kieswetter (@kiesy_22) June 29, 2023

Another thrilling day done ✅

We finish Day 2 on 2️⃣7️⃣8️⃣/4️⃣#EnglandCricket | #Ashes pic.twitter.com/91kUiil8fh

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 29, 2023

You're next, @RickyPonting.#Ashes pic.twitter.com/xFesLtzX6Y

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) June 29, 2023

''That's the problem with this England side, they don't realise when they're on top''.

Michael Vaughan was not impressed with Zak Crawley's dismissal. #BBCCricket #Ashes pic.twitter.com/sTceVhgRfj

— Test Match Special (@bbctms) June 29, 2023

He might have made yet another Test ton at Lord’s & taken two excellent catches today but Steve Smith seemed most chuffed about the off-break he bowled to Ben Stokes in that final over & stood around describing it to his teammates at stumps #Ashes

— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) June 29, 2023

Australia still slightly in front but that was a really good last 30 mins from Stokes and Brooks. This Ashes series has been thrilling. #Ashes #ENGvAUS

— Usman (@101Usman) June 29, 2023

If you’d offered England this position at the start of today, they’d have more than taken it. But that mad hour could still cost them, especially with that tail #ashes

— Glenn Ebrey (@glennebrey) June 29, 2023