Rory Burns and England captain Joe Root yesterday kept Australia at bay on the second day of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston.
At lunch, England were 71-1 in their first innings — a deficit of 213 runs. Burns was 41 not out and Root unbeaten on 11.
England still had plenty of work to do to get back on level terms, but a session during which they lost just one wicket represented a vast improvement on their first-innings 85 all out in a Test win over Ireland at Lord’s last week.
England were 10-0, with left-hander Burns four not out and Surrey teammate Jason Roy six not out when play resumed yesterday in slightly overcast conditions.
That left them 274 runs behind Australia’s first-innings 284 built on a brilliant 144 from Steve Smith.
Australia were in dire straits at 122-8, but their last two wickets more than doubled their total, with No. 10 Peter Siddle making 44, the second-highest score of the innings, as he put on 88 with Smith.
It was not long before Smith was center stage again.
Roy in just his second Test never looked comfortable against Australia’s fast bowlers.
Therefore, it was no surprise when, on 10, he edged a good-length ball from James Pattinson low to Smith at second slip, with England then 22-1 in the eighth over.
Burns was then hit a glancing blow on his batting helmet by a Pat Cummins bouncer.
Root had returned to No. 3 from No. 4 in a bid to lead from the front with the bat, but he was almost bowled leaving off-spinner Nathan Lyon’s first ball, a sharply turning delivery that just missed the stumps.
Root, England’s best batsman, had an even bigger slice of luck on nine when he was given out caught behind off Pattinson only for his review to reveal the ball had hit the off stump without dislodging a bail.
Meanwhile, England fast bowler Mark Wood has been ruled out for the rest of the season, including the Ashes series, due to a side strain and a knee injury, the England and Wales Cricket Board said yesterday.
Wood, who picked up the strain last month during England’s win over New Zealand in the World Cup final, also had knee surgery this week to clear up excess cartilage.
Wood was England’s second-highest wicket-taker at the World Cup with 18 in 10 matches after Jofra Archer on 20.
England are struggling with injuries in the bowling department with Archer, who also strained his side, left out for the first Test against Australia and James Anderson reinjuring his calf during his opening spell on Thursday.
Additional reporting by Reuters
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely