• Smith, Rogers dominate England

    Chris Rogers and Steve Smith shared a record 259-run stand as Australia closed on a dominant 337-1 on day one of the second Test match against England.

    Australia won the toss and elected to bat first on a flat track that offered very little for the bowlers, and the tourists made full use of it, in what was the ideal response to their heavy first Test defeat.

    The visitors brought Peter Nevill and Mitchell Marsh into the side at the expense of Brad Haddin who withdrew himself for personal reasons, and Shane Watson who was dropped for a long spell of indifferent form. England were unchanged, looking to win at Lords for the third time in a row against Australia and go two up in the series.

    The toss was always going to play a crucial role, and Michael Clarke guessed correctly to put his side into bat. Rogers (158 not out) had a scare in the very first over when he nicked one in between the slips, but it was plain sailing for the 37-year-old from there.

    Together with David Warner, the pair put on a 78-run stand, before Warner gave away his wicket unnecessarily, skying one into the hands of James Anderson off the bowling of Moeen Ali for 38.

    Smith (129 not out) and Rogers knuckled down and it was slow going at first, but Rogers would eventually bring up his eighth half-century in nine innings, and Smith followed suit. Smith was then dropped on 50, with Ian Bell putting down a difficult low chance in the slips. That was as close as England got to finding the breakthrough.

    Smith would then reach his 10th Test century, and Rogers would bring up his fifth, before comfortably going past his previous best score of 119. England had no answers, as the pair brought up a record second-wicket stand for Australia at Lords, before eventually settling for 337-1 at stumps.

    Post by

    Tom Sizeland