Aussies 3-424 at lunch on day two

Michael Clarke fell cheaply, but Australia continued to march towards a commanding first-innings total at Lord’s on Friday morning.

Australia were 3-424 at lunch on day two of the second Ashes Test, with Steve Smith unbeaten on 168 and leading his side’s bid to square the series.

Chris Rogers added 14 runs to his overnight score before playing on to a cracking delivery from Stuart Broad.

Rogers was out for 173, his highest Test score and the fifth highest Test score by an Australian at the home of cricket.

Rogers’ partnership with Smith was worth 284 runs, an Australian record at the venue.

Clarke tamely popped up a catch to Gary Ballance at square leg to be out for seven.

However, history suggests only two results are possible from this point on following Clarke’s crucial call at the toss.

The only team to lose a Lord’s Test after batting first and scoring over 400 runs was England, who made 425 in 1930 only to be trumped by a Don Bradman double-century.

Smith continued to make England pay for the life he was offered on 50, when Ian Bell grassed a low catch at second slip on day one.

The 26-year-old was not overly aggressive and instead content to wait for the bad balls, of which there were few from Broad early on.

The dismissals of Rogers and Clarke in the space of 11 overs temporarily slowed the run-rate, with the tourists adding 87 runs in the session.

Adam Voges was 24 not out at Friday’s meal break, having struck five boundaries including a magnificently-timed cover drive.

Voges was hit on the pads in the 110th over, when Alastair Cook finally requested his first review of the match.

Ball-tracking replays suggested umpire Kumar Dharmasena should stick with his original verdict.

Smith, speaking after day one when he finished on 129, noted it was important Australia continued to pile on runs quickly after their incredible start to the game.

“It’s pretty crucial to make this first innings count,” he said.

“I want to really make it count after I was given a chance on 50.”

Smith bluntly pointed out it wasn’t the only piece of charity from the hosts.

“I was a little bit surprised that Trevor Bayliss would allow Alastair Cook to have a deep point for as long as he did today,” Smith said.

“It was a good pitch to bat on but they got defensive quite quickly. I know that’s one thing we’re certainly not going to do.”

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