Steven Smith continued to pile on the runs for Australia in the second Ashes Test against England at Lord’s after Chris Rogers’ marathon innings ended yesterday.
Australia were 424-3 at lunch on the second day, with Smith 168 not out after Rogers had fallen for 173.
Adam Voges was out shortly after lunch for 25.
Photo: Reuters
England, led by fast-medium bowler Stuart Broad, restricted Australia to a session run-rate of less than three an over for the loss of both Rogers and captain Michael Clarke.
However, the bulk of the damage had been done on the first day, when Australia posted 337-1. Rogers and Smith’s stand of 284 was Australia’s highest partnership for any wicket in a Test at Lord’s.
Then, as often happens after a lengthy wait, the new batsman fell cheaply with Clarke out for seven.
Veteran left-handed opener Rogers had already bettered his previous highest Test score of 119, made against England in Sydney last year, after batting through the whole of Thursday for 158 not out.
The 37-year-old, who spent several seasons at Lord’s with county side Middlesex, had a worrying start yesterday.
The very first ball of the day’s play saw him struck flush on the side of the helmet as he turned his head away from a James Anderson delivery that did not bounce as much as he expected.
Rogers, who missed Australia’s preceding Test series win in the Caribbean after suffering concussion while batting in the nets, needed several minutes’ of on-field treatment before batting on.
It was Broad, Anderson’s new ball partner, who eventually pierced Rogers’ defence with a delivery that nipped back to take the inside edge and pad before crashing into the stumps to leave Australia 362-2.
Rogers batted for more than six-and-a-half hours and struck 28 fours.
His stand with Smith topped the previous Australia record Test partnership at Lord’s of 260 shared by openers Mark Taylor and Michael Slater in 1993.
At press time last night, Australia were 472-5.
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