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| Photo from The Telegraph |
We're poised for a thrilling conclusion at Lord's, after a feisty battle between Steve Smith and Jofra Archer leaves the second Ashes Test in the balance.
Debutant Archer struck former Aussie captain Smith on the helmet, in a spell which touched 96mph, meaning the twin century scorer at Edgbaston retired injured on 80.
The former Australian captain returned 40 minutes later but only added 12 to his score before Chris Woakes trapped him lbw, clearly shaken by Archer's bowling.
Australia were bowled out for 250, trailing by eight runs.
The pace of Pat Cummins was also decisve today, removing Jason Roy and Joe Root in successive balls, before Rory Burns and Joe Denly fell to Peter Siddle after a steadying partnership.
At the end of it all, England scraped to 96-4 - a lead of 104 - leaving all four results possible in a Test where the entire first day and most of the third were lost to rain.
To be out of danger, England will probably need to bat beyond lunch on Sunday.
But it may also be that their best chance of winning is to run through an Australia side chasing a low target, potentially without Smith, who, as well as being hit on the neck, required an X-ray on his left arm.
The finale will be played out on a pitch that is showing increasing signs of uneven bounce and in front of a sell-out crowd with the weather set fair.
After England were heavily beaten in the first Test, Sunday could see them back in the series, or the Ashes as good as gone.
Today's action at the home of cricket will surely be remembered as part of an incredible summer at Lord's - the World Cup final, Ireland bowling out England for 85 and Jack Leach's 92 as nightwatchman in the same Test.
It was an exhibition of Test cricket today, showing how enthralling this format of the game can be when the best batsman and paciest bowlers lock horns.
At the climax of it all was the sickening blow by Archer on Smith's neck, which left the previously animated crowd in stunned silence.
Having to retire injure for concern over concussion, Pat Cummins took the mantle and celebrated his 23 as though the Test was on the way to being won.
Smith looked certain to make his third century in as many innings this series, nudging, shuffling and fidgeting Australia into a commanding lead.
Archer soon put a stop to the former captain's rhythm, with the crowd sensing they were going to witness something special from their newest star.
Having faced bouncers aplenty from Cummins yesterday, Archer sought revenge here, first dismissing captain Tim Paine for 20 with a catch at short leg, before hitting Smith's forearm which, after X-ray, was shown not to be fractured.
In the next four Archer balls that Smith faced, there were three uncontrolled hooks and a near miss when he pulled out of fending to short leg.
The next was the blow that forced him from the field, 20 short of his century.
It was clear that Smith was not himself, and even though Archer was not in the attack at that time, Woakes delivered a straight ball for which Smith had no answer, not playing a shot on a ball that was cannoning into the middle stump for an lbw.
Even with Archer's demonstration of how to bowl at Smith, Australia will still be happier with how the day went, moving from 80-4 to almost leveling the first innings scores, then taking four wickets after tea.
Cummins opened the attack, who caught and bowled Roy, before Root edged to Paine from the next ball.
Burns and Denly added 55 for the third wicket, only after the latter was dropped on seven by David Warner at first slip off Siddle, before Burns should have been given leg before off Nathan Lyon on 24.
Burns added five more before edging behind off Siddle, while Denly made 26 before tamely scooping back to the Essex paceman.
Ben Stokes was dropped at slip on six by Warner and escaped an lbw, both off Lyon, but he and Jos Buttler negotiated until the close of play from 71-4 without losing a fifth wicket.
The Ashes Fixtures and Results
1-5 August
First Test, Edgbaston
Australia won by 251 runs (England 0-1 Australia)
14-18 August
Second Test, Lord's
22-26 August
Third Test, Headingley
4-8 September
Fourth Test, Old Trafford
12-16 September
Fifth Test, The Oval
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1-5 August
First Test, Edgbaston
Australia won by 251 runs (England 0-1 Australia)
14-18 August
Second Test, Lord's
22-26 August
Third Test, Headingley
4-8 September
Fourth Test, Old Trafford
12-16 September
Fifth Test, The Oval
Never miss a post - enter your email address in the box on the right!
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