Despite Duckett's Heartbreak At 98, England Continue Their Bazball On Day 2 Of Lord's Test

Stokes and Brook are sharing an unbeaten stand of 56 runs (AP Photo)

Around 24 hours ago, Australia had almost shut all doors for England with their batting on Day 1 at Lord's in the ongoing Ashes. However, inspiring batting, and bowling in the early part of the day, helped the home team bring back the game in the balance.

Smith ton shun Three and a half lions

Earlier in the day, Australia maverick Steve Smith started off from where he left on Day 1. Again, the English lineup and their bowlers had no idea where to bowl to the modern master. The most unorthodox batter of his time registered a famous century most soothingly, driving James Anderson through the covers for a boundary at the Mecca of Cricket, breaking countless records with his 32nd Test century.

The Smith marathon ended at 110, but he did his job as Australia marched onto a mighty total of 416 runs.

'Unlucky' Duckett Does a Smudge for England

Duckett gave England a blistering start at Lord's (AP Photo)

Standing talking against the robust Aussie total, Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley gave their team a blistering opening start. He notched a 91-run opening partnership inside 18 overs, but Nathan Lyon drew the first blood by inviting Crawley out of the crease and getting him stumped.

After Crawley, the left-handed opener found a partner in the form of Ollie Pope, who came out to bat despite sustaining an injury on Day 1. The duo kept the excellent work on as the runs came rapidly, while the Aussies struggled to find a break for another 20 overs. Just like Crawley, Pope lost his concentration and missed notching a fifty. And then Joe Root witnessed a rare failure.

However, the most tragic moment of the day unfolded in the 43rd over of the English innings, when Duckett miscued a pull off Josh Hazlewood's bowling straight to the third man's throat. It wasn't any rare pull or dismissal; the southpaw got heartbroken by falling two runs short of an Ashes hundred.

Stokes-Brook put the lid on Day 2

After three wickets in a quick span, Captain Ben Stokes and Harry Brook allowed the onus on them and decided not to let the visitors end the day on a high. They batted cleverly but kept putting away bad deliveries to notch an unbeaten 56-run stand in no time.

Brief Score

Australia - 416/10 (100.4 overs)
Steve Smith - 110, Travis Head - 77
Josh Tongue - 3/98 (22), Ollie Robinson - 3/100 (24.4)

England - 278-4 (61.0 overs)
Ben Duckett - 98, Zak Crawley - 48, Harry Brook - 45*
Nathan Lyon - 1/35 (13), Cameron Green - 1/43 (7)

England trail by 138 runs at stumps on Day 2.