Ashes 2023: England bounce back on day two at Lord’s as Australia lose Nathan Lyon to injury

After a tough opening day of the second Ashes Test, England roared back into the match as Australia appeared to lose star spinner Nathan Lyon to injury at Lord’s. Australia began the second day in a commanding position at 339-5, and Alex Carey and Steve Smith started positively with the bat. Ad England changed the ball and it did the trick, as the pace attack began to find some movement.

CricketRoot's double strike lifts England but unbeaten Smith has Australia on topYESTERDAY AT 18:08 Carey (22) was trapped lbw by Stuart Broad, and James Anderson had Mitchell Starc (6) caught behind by Jonny Bairstow. Smith continued serenely and brought up the 32nd century of his Test career, but he fell for 110 to a sharp catch in the gully by Ben Duckett off Josh Tongue. Australia capitulated rather meekly, as England dismissed them just before lunch for 416.

Conditions looked good for batting on the second afternoon, and Zak Crawley and Duckett put on 91 for the first wicket. With the Australian pace attack getting little joy, they turned to the spin of Lyon and he had Crawley (48) expertly stumped down the leg side by Carey. Ollie Pope, who sat out much of Australia’s first innings due to a shoulder problem, joined Duckett and rode his luck early on.

There was a huge moment in the evening session, as Lyon pulled up when coming in from the boundary to field a ball. He immediately felt his right calf, called the physio and was helped off the field — and appeared to be in tears as he walked to the changing rooms. Lyon is key to Australia’s attack as his control allows captain Pat Cummins to rotate his quicks, and his absence would leave a significant void.