Ashes 2019, 3rd Test: Key takeaways from Day 2
The Ashes 2019 is looking likely to be retained by Australia after Day 2 of the Headingley Test took a dramatic turn. After being bowled out for 179 earlier on Day 1, the Aussies rattled England to bowl them out for 67. Josh Hazlewood (5/30) ripped apart the hosts. Australia took a 283-run lead after scoring 171/6 at end of Day 2.
England failed to take advantage of better conditions after going out to bat. Australia mixed things up well and it was poor from England's batsmen to poke at fuller deliveries. Ben Stokes (8), in particular, chased at a wide one to find an edge. Nobody offered any sort of resistance as the tale of low scores continued to haunt England in the longest format.
Australia's pace attack is one of the best in world cricket and there is experience in ranks. Hazlewood and Cummins tore apart England with some superb bowling. They hardly offered any free stuff to the English batsmen and were attacking all day long. Nine England batsmen were caught out to show the accuracy the Aussies enjoyed. It was a stunning phase of cricket.
David Warner was in the thick of things and he had a wonderful day at slips. This was terrific from the senior cricketer. Warner bossed the slip region and pulled off some brilliant catches. He took four in total and looked sharp and pumped all day long. The catches of Jason Roy and Joe Root were simply outstanding. His brilliance lifted the Aussies.
Jofra Archer, who picked up 6/45 in the first innings, suffered a hamstring injury in the second. He was into his ninth over while the injury happened. There is a fear that Archer is being over-utilized. Also, English bowlers got no rest after the batsmen faltered in 27.5 overs. Skipper Joe Root cannot afford to put an extra burden on Archer for wickets.
Marnus Labuschagne has been the perfect replacement for Steve Smith. He is doing the work of Smith in a superb manner. The promising middle-order batsman remained unbeaten on 53 after a sparkling 74 in the first innings. His runs could make a difference in the end. At Lord's, he had scored a fifty in the second innings after coming on as a replacement substitute.
