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Ashes 2023 | Australia Gains Narrow Lead In A Riveting Day 2 Of The Oval Test

image-lkmvnv1xEnglish pacers triggered a mini Australian collapse in the post lunch session on Day 2 (Twitter)

Australia will be the happier side at Stumps on Day 2 of the fifth and final Ashes 2023 Test that is currently underway at the Kennington Oval in London. 

The visitors seized a slim advantage on the second day, overcoming a tough English bowling performance to etch a marginal 12-run lead.


ENG vs AUS 5th Test Day 2 Report: Talking Points

Start of Day 2: A defensive approach

Australia commenced Day 2 with an ultra-defensive mindset at 61/1, still trailing England’s total by 222 runs. The morning session was dominated by dogged defence from Marnus Labuschagne and sporadic offensive flairs from Usman Khawaja.


The English bowling attack, spearheaded by veterans James Anderson and Stuart Broad alongside the promising Mark Wood and Chris Woakes, constantly challenged the Australian batting line-up. Their efforts bore fruit when Wood dismissed Marnus Labuschagne on 9, caught brilliantly by Joe Root at first slip. Australia finished the morning session at a measured 115/2.

England strikes back as Australian middle-order collapses

The afternoon belonged to England as the hosts clawed their way back into the game, decimating Australia's middle order and limiting them to just 71 runs in the second session. Broad’s incisive bowling dismantled Khawaja and Travis Head, dismissing them for 47 and 4, respectively.

Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh aimed to bring stability, but their hopes were thwarted when Marsh was dismissed for 16 by a brilliant delivery from Anderson. Subsequent wickets of Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc left Australia in a critical position at 186/7 at the tea break.

Smith-Cummins partnership and the Aussie counter-attack

The final session saw an epic fightback from Australia, started by a crucial 54-run partnership between former captain Smith and current skipper Pat Cummins. Smith's fighting knock of 71 ended after a misjudgement against Woakes' bowling, leaving Australia trailing by 44 runs.

Todd Murphy, joining Cummins at the crease, launched a bold counter-offensive, helping Australia inch past England's score. His swashbuckling 34 off just 39 balls, featuring three sixes off Wood, lifted Australia’s spirits. Cummins fell as the last man for 36, leading Australia to a first innings total of 295, with a slender 12-run lead at close of play on Day 2.

Expectations from Day 3

With three days remaining, the match hangs in the balance. Australia, despite a mini-collapse, will be pleased to have acquired a lead, although narrow.

Aiming to level the Ashes 2023 series 2-2, England will need to bat intelligently and amass a sizable score. On the other hand, the Aussies will look to keep England's score in check, with the wicket likely to deteriorate over the final two days.

Brief Scores

England: 283/10 (54.4)

Harry Brook 85 (91), Ben Duckett 41 (41)

Mitchell Starc 4-82 (14.4), Todd Murphy 2-22 (6)

Australia: 295/10 (103.1)

Steve Smith 71 (123), Usman Khawaja 47 (157)

Chris Woakes 3-61 (25), Stuart Broad 2-49 (20)

Australia lead by 12 runs