Ben Stokes hit his maiden Ashes century before another thrilling bowling spell by Jofra Archer put England within reach of a win at Lord's.
England - 258 & 258-5 dec / 250 & 154-6 - Australia
Australia had their backs against the wall in the second Ashes Test, after Ben Stokes' maiden century against Australia and another frightening spell by Jofra Archer, but England had to settle for a draw at Lord's.
Stokes made an unbeaten 115 before captain Joe Root called him and Jonny Bairstow back from the crease at 258-5, with a target of 267 for Australia to win.
Tim Paine's men were made to bat 48 overs to save the game, and looked good at 132-3 in the 36th over, but three wickets fell for 17 runs in the next five overs.
Archer and Jack Leach couldn't find any more breakthroughs in the fading light, as Travis Head and Pat Cummins saw the tourists to 154-6.
Without their main man Steve Smith - withdrawn from the match after a blow to the helmet by Archer on day four - Australia made the first ever concussion sub in Test cricket, with Marnus Labuschagne coming in to bat at four.
Archer took his first two wickets with ease, seeing off David Warner and Usman Khawaja in his first three overs, before dealing another vicious blow to Labuschagne with only his second ball to Smith's replacement, clocking in at 91.6mph.
He got straight back to his feet and battled to 59 quite brilliantly given the rushed nature of the decision to include him in the batting line-up.
He was then dismissed by Joe Root, caught at square leg off Leach, though on umpire review it looked as though the ball may have bounced.
The soft signal was out and therefore the TV umpire had to find concrete evidence to overrule, which he could not give, so Labuschagne walked.
Then came the catch of the match by Joe Denly, leaping high to his left - also at square leg, to remove Paine.
Archer was then prevented from bowling late in the day as light faded, allowing Australia to keep their 1-0 series lead intact.
They will know they can retain the Ashes with a win at Headingley, after which the best England could hope for is a draw.
The momentum appears to have swung in the series, from Australia's thrashing at Edgbaston including Smith's twin centuries and James Anderson's injury, England will take the impetus to Leeds.
Had it not been for the rain that meant the whole first day had to be abandoned, as well as the first 10 overs today - five sessions lost in total.
Stokes and Archer looked to re-enact their World Cup final heroics, five weeks to the day since that memorable victory, on a Test final day that had drama to rival the ODI versus New Zealand.
Archer inflicted the injury on Smith that leaves him a doubt for Headingley - and while no England player or fan would wish that misfortune on any player, but it is a mark of respect to the player that England will only think they have a chance without him playing in the third Test.
As well as Archer's frightening pace, Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler have found some form, while Jack Leach's spin is a much more reliable option than Moeen Ali for captain Root.
However the top order remains to look fragile, and with the series as it is, England could be one batting collapse away from surrendering the Ashes.
Archer's Test debut will go down in English cricket history as one of the best of all time. backing up yesterday's spell to Smith with a new ball spell today, reducing the tourists to 19-2 before flooring Labuschagne with a bouncer.
But credit to the young man, playing in his sixth Test, he got straight up and weathered the storm with some well-judged leaves and powerful drives - not too dissimilar to the man he replaced.
Leach had Cameron Bancroft lbw in the first over after tea, before Travis Head joined Labuschagne for a fourth-wicket stand of 85 in which Jason Roy dropped Head at second slip off Stokes with 20 overs in the day remaining.
After Head's reprieve came the contentious Root catch of Labuschagne off Leach, before Matthew Wade patted to short leg off the same bowler.
Archer's next spell was rewarded with Denly's magnificent catch to remove Paine, before Rory Burns dropped Cummins at silly point off Archer as the fielders crowded round the bat, but the fading light forced the withdrawal of the seamer from the attack.
The favourites to win the match - if there were to be a result - swung throughout the day, with England the most vulnerable at the start of the day with a lead of only 104 at 96-4.
But it was thanks to Stokes and his first Test century in over two years that England were brought back into contention.
He survived twice while on six last night, and absorbed the early attack from Australia in a fith-wicket stand of 90.
Buttler fell soon after lunch, and when Bairstow came to the crease the batting changed from tactical defence to flamboyant attack.
Running at around six per over, Stokes swept off-spinner Nathan Lyon for back-to-back maximums, with Bairstow pitching in with two of his own.
Stokes took a single off Lyon to bring up three figures, and when a Peter Siddle over went for 16, England declared.
I'm not sure how I feel about Joe Root and the coaching staff allowing Stokes to reach his century - his performance certainly deserved it, but when a player's personal milestone is more important than victory for the team, I think you have to question your captaincy credentials.
At such a crucial moment in a Test series, against our biggest rivals, Root should have decided to sacrifice the Stokes hundred, allowing the bowlers more time and overs to get at Australia - by batting on to 115, Root was pretty much playing for a draw, and with it he may have forfeited the series.
SCORECARD
Australia won the toss and decided to field
Match drawn
England First Innings
Batsman: How Out - Bowler / Runs / Balls / SR (4s, 6s)
Burns: c Bancroft - b Cummins / 53 / 127 / 41.73 (7, 0)
Roy: c Paine - b Hazlewood / 0 / 3 / 0.00 (0, 0)
Root: lbw - b Hazlewood / 14 / 20 / 70.00 (3, 0)
Denly: c Paine - b Hazlewood / 30 / 67 / 44.78 (4, 0)
Buttler: c Paine - b Siddle / 12 / 23 / 52.17 (1, 0)
Stokes: lbw - b Lyon / 13 / 22 / 59.09 (3, 0)
Bairstow: c Khawaja - b Lyon / 52 / 95 / 54.74 (7, 0)
Woakes: c Paine - b Cummins / 32 / 62 / 51.61 (3, 1)
Archer: c Khawaja - b Cummins / 12 / 20 / 60.00 (2, 0)
Broad: b Lyon / 11 / 15 / 73.33 (2, 0)
Leach: not out / 6 / 9 / 66.67 (1, 0)
Extras 0nb 6w 12b 5lb 23
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| Photo from India Today |
Australia had their backs against the wall in the second Ashes Test, after Ben Stokes' maiden century against Australia and another frightening spell by Jofra Archer, but England had to settle for a draw at Lord's.
Stokes made an unbeaten 115 before captain Joe Root called him and Jonny Bairstow back from the crease at 258-5, with a target of 267 for Australia to win.
Tim Paine's men were made to bat 48 overs to save the game, and looked good at 132-3 in the 36th over, but three wickets fell for 17 runs in the next five overs.
Archer and Jack Leach couldn't find any more breakthroughs in the fading light, as Travis Head and Pat Cummins saw the tourists to 154-6.
Without their main man Steve Smith - withdrawn from the match after a blow to the helmet by Archer on day four - Australia made the first ever concussion sub in Test cricket, with Marnus Labuschagne coming in to bat at four.
Archer took his first two wickets with ease, seeing off David Warner and Usman Khawaja in his first three overs, before dealing another vicious blow to Labuschagne with only his second ball to Smith's replacement, clocking in at 91.6mph.
He got straight back to his feet and battled to 59 quite brilliantly given the rushed nature of the decision to include him in the batting line-up.
He was then dismissed by Joe Root, caught at square leg off Leach, though on umpire review it looked as though the ball may have bounced.
The soft signal was out and therefore the TV umpire had to find concrete evidence to overrule, which he could not give, so Labuschagne walked.
Then came the catch of the match by Joe Denly, leaping high to his left - also at square leg, to remove Paine.
Archer was then prevented from bowling late in the day as light faded, allowing Australia to keep their 1-0 series lead intact.
They will know they can retain the Ashes with a win at Headingley, after which the best England could hope for is a draw.
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| Photo from Fox Sports |
Had it not been for the rain that meant the whole first day had to be abandoned, as well as the first 10 overs today - five sessions lost in total.
Stokes and Archer looked to re-enact their World Cup final heroics, five weeks to the day since that memorable victory, on a Test final day that had drama to rival the ODI versus New Zealand.
Archer inflicted the injury on Smith that leaves him a doubt for Headingley - and while no England player or fan would wish that misfortune on any player, but it is a mark of respect to the player that England will only think they have a chance without him playing in the third Test.
As well as Archer's frightening pace, Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler have found some form, while Jack Leach's spin is a much more reliable option than Moeen Ali for captain Root.
However the top order remains to look fragile, and with the series as it is, England could be one batting collapse away from surrendering the Ashes.
Archer's Test debut will go down in English cricket history as one of the best of all time. backing up yesterday's spell to Smith with a new ball spell today, reducing the tourists to 19-2 before flooring Labuschagne with a bouncer.
But credit to the young man, playing in his sixth Test, he got straight up and weathered the storm with some well-judged leaves and powerful drives - not too dissimilar to the man he replaced.
Leach had Cameron Bancroft lbw in the first over after tea, before Travis Head joined Labuschagne for a fourth-wicket stand of 85 in which Jason Roy dropped Head at second slip off Stokes with 20 overs in the day remaining.
After Head's reprieve came the contentious Root catch of Labuschagne off Leach, before Matthew Wade patted to short leg off the same bowler.
Archer's next spell was rewarded with Denly's magnificent catch to remove Paine, before Rory Burns dropped Cummins at silly point off Archer as the fielders crowded round the bat, but the fading light forced the withdrawal of the seamer from the attack.
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| Photo from Asianet News |
But it was thanks to Stokes and his first Test century in over two years that England were brought back into contention.
He survived twice while on six last night, and absorbed the early attack from Australia in a fith-wicket stand of 90.
Buttler fell soon after lunch, and when Bairstow came to the crease the batting changed from tactical defence to flamboyant attack.
Running at around six per over, Stokes swept off-spinner Nathan Lyon for back-to-back maximums, with Bairstow pitching in with two of his own.
Stokes took a single off Lyon to bring up three figures, and when a Peter Siddle over went for 16, England declared.
I'm not sure how I feel about Joe Root and the coaching staff allowing Stokes to reach his century - his performance certainly deserved it, but when a player's personal milestone is more important than victory for the team, I think you have to question your captaincy credentials.
At such a crucial moment in a Test series, against our biggest rivals, Root should have decided to sacrifice the Stokes hundred, allowing the bowlers more time and overs to get at Australia - by batting on to 115, Root was pretty much playing for a draw, and with it he may have forfeited the series.
SCORECARD
Australia won the toss and decided to field
Match drawn
England First Innings
Batsman: How Out - Bowler / Runs / Balls / SR (4s, 6s)
Burns: c Bancroft - b Cummins / 53 / 127 / 41.73 (7, 0)
Roy: c Paine - b Hazlewood / 0 / 3 / 0.00 (0, 0)
Root: lbw - b Hazlewood / 14 / 20 / 70.00 (3, 0)
Denly: c Paine - b Hazlewood / 30 / 67 / 44.78 (4, 0)
Buttler: c Paine - b Siddle / 12 / 23 / 52.17 (1, 0)
Stokes: lbw - b Lyon / 13 / 22 / 59.09 (3, 0)
Bairstow: c Khawaja - b Lyon / 52 / 95 / 54.74 (7, 0)
Woakes: c Paine - b Cummins / 32 / 62 / 51.61 (3, 1)
Archer: c Khawaja - b Cummins / 12 / 20 / 60.00 (2, 0)
Broad: b Lyon / 11 / 15 / 73.33 (2, 0)
Leach: not out / 6 / 9 / 66.67 (1, 0)
Extras 0nb 6w 12b 5lb 23
Total (77.1 overs) 258 all out
Bowler: Overs / Maidens / Runs / Wickets / Econ
Cummins: 21.0 / 8 / 61 / 3 / 2.90
Hazlewood: 22.0 / 6 / 58 / 3 / 2.64
Siddle: 13.0 / 2 / 48 / 1 / 3.69
Lyon: 19.1 / 2 / 68 / 3 / 3.55
Smith: 2.0 / 0 / 6 / 0 / 3.00
Fall of Wicket - Batsman
0-1 (1.3 ovs) - Roy
26-2 (9.1 ovs) - Root
92-3 (31.6 ovs) - Denly
116-4 (38.3 ovs) - Burns
136-5 (42.3 ovs) - Buttler
138-6 (45.2 ovs) - Stokes
210-7 (64.6 ovs) - Woakes
230-8 (70.2 ovs) - Archer
251-9 (73.5 ovs) - Broad
258-10 (77.1 ovs) - Bairstow
Australia First Innings
Batsman: How Out - Bowler / Runs / Balls / SR (4s, 6s)
Bancroft: lbw - b Archer / 13 / 66 / 19.70 (1, 0)
Warner: b Broad / 3 / 17 / 17.65 (0, 0)
Khawaja: c Bairstow - b Woakes / 36 / 56 / 64.29 (4, 0)
Smith: lbw - b Woakes / 92 / 161 / 57.14 (14, 0)
Head: lbw - b Broad / 7 / 21 / 33.33 (1, 0)
Wade: c Burns - b Broad / 6 / 45 / 13.33 (1, 0)
Paine: c Buttler - b Archer / 23 / 70 / 32.86 (2, 0)
Cummins: c Bairstow - b Broad / 20 / 80 / 25.00 (3, 0)
Siddle: c Bairstow - b Woakes / 9 / 31 / 29.03 (1, 0)
Lyon: lbw - b Leach / 6 / 17 / 35.29 (0, 0)
Hazlewood: not out / 3 / 4 / 75.00 (0, 0)
Extras 1nb 2w 17b 12lb 32
Total (94.3 overs) 250 all out
Bowler: Overs / Maidens / Runs / Wickets / Econ
Broad: 27.3 / 7 / 65 / 4 / 2.36
Archer: 29.0 / 11 / 59 / 2 / 2.03
Woakes: 19.0 / 6 / 61 / 3 / 3.21
Stokes: 8.0 / 1 / 17 / 0 / 2.12
Leach: 11.0 / 3 / 19 / 1 / 1.73
Fall of Wicket - Batsman
11-1 (4.2 ovs) - Warner
60-2 (22.5 ovs) - Bancroft
60-3 (23.2 ovs) - Khawaja
71-4 (30.1 ovs) - Head
102-5 (44.2 ovs) - Wade
162-6 (66.6 ovs) - Paine
218-7 (85.2 ovs) - Siddle
234-8 (87.5 ovs) - Smith
246-9 (93.1 ovs) - Lyon
250-10 (94.3 ovs) - Cummins
England Second Innings
Batsman: How Out - Bowler / Runs / Balls / SR (4s, 6s)
Burns: c Paine - b Siddle / 29 / 52 / 55.77 (3, 0)
Roy: c & b - Cummins / 2 / 13 / 15.38 (0, 0)
Root: c Paine - b Cummins / 0 / 1 / 0.00 (0, 0)
Denly: c & b Siddle / 26 / 51 / 50.98 (4, 0)
Stokes: not out / 115 / 165 / 69.70 (11, 3)
Buttler: c Hazlewood - b Cummins / 31 / 108 / 28.70 (3, 0)
Bairstow: not out / 30 / 37 / 81.08 (1, 2)
Extras 1nb 0w 5b 19lb 25
Total (71.0 overs) 258-5 dec
Bowler: Overs / Maidens / Runs / Wickets / Econ
Cummins: 17.0 / 6 / 35 / 3 / 2.06
Hazlewood: 13.0 / 1 / 43 / 0 / 3.31
Siddle: 15.0 / 4 / 54 / 2 / 3.60
Lyon: 26.0 / 3 / 102 / 0 / 3.92
Fall of Wicket - Batsman
9-1 (4.1 ovs) - Roy
9-2 (4.2 ovs) - Root
64-3 (18.5 ovs) - Denly
71-4 (20.2 ovs) - Burns
161-5 (56.6 ovs) - Buttler
Australia Second Innings
Batsman: How Out - Bowler / Runs / Balls / SR (4s, 6s)
Bancroft: lbw - b Leach / 16 / 40 / 40.00 (2, 0)
Warner: c Burns - b Archer / 5 / 11 / 45.45 (1, 0)
Khawaja: c Bairstow - b Archer / 2 / 6 / 33.33 (0, 0)
Labuschagne: c Root - b Leach / 59 / 100 / 59.00 (8, 0)
Head: not out / 42 / 90 / 46.67 (9, 0)
Wade: c Buttler - b Leach / 1 / 5 / 20.00 (0, 0)
Paine: c Denly - b Archer / 4 / 17 / 23.53 (1, 0)
Cummins not out / 1 / 17 / 5.88 (0, 0)
Extras 1nb 1w 8b 14lb 24
Total (47.3 overs) 154-6
Bowler: Overs / Maidens / Runs / Wickets / Econ
Broad: 7.0 / 0 / 29 / 0 / 4.14
Archer: 15.0 / 2 / 32 / 3 / 2.13
Woakes: 3.0 / 0 / 11 / 0 / 3.67
Leach: 16.3 / 5 / 37 / 3 / 2.24
Stokes: 3.0 / 1 / 16 / 0 / 5.33
Root: 1.0 / 0 / 7 / 0 / 7.00
Denly: 2.0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0.00
Fall of Wicket - Batsman
13-1 (3.3 ovs) - Warner
19-2 (5.3 ovs) - Khawaja
47-3 (13.6 ovs) - Bancroft
132-4 (35.6 ovs) - Labuschagne
138-5 (37.1 ovs) - Wade
149-6 (40.6 ovs) - Paine
Bowler: Overs / Maidens / Runs / Wickets / Econ
Cummins: 21.0 / 8 / 61 / 3 / 2.90
Hazlewood: 22.0 / 6 / 58 / 3 / 2.64
Siddle: 13.0 / 2 / 48 / 1 / 3.69
Lyon: 19.1 / 2 / 68 / 3 / 3.55
Smith: 2.0 / 0 / 6 / 0 / 3.00
Fall of Wicket - Batsman
0-1 (1.3 ovs) - Roy
26-2 (9.1 ovs) - Root
92-3 (31.6 ovs) - Denly
116-4 (38.3 ovs) - Burns
136-5 (42.3 ovs) - Buttler
138-6 (45.2 ovs) - Stokes
210-7 (64.6 ovs) - Woakes
230-8 (70.2 ovs) - Archer
251-9 (73.5 ovs) - Broad
258-10 (77.1 ovs) - Bairstow
Australia First Innings
Batsman: How Out - Bowler / Runs / Balls / SR (4s, 6s)
Bancroft: lbw - b Archer / 13 / 66 / 19.70 (1, 0)
Warner: b Broad / 3 / 17 / 17.65 (0, 0)
Khawaja: c Bairstow - b Woakes / 36 / 56 / 64.29 (4, 0)
Smith: lbw - b Woakes / 92 / 161 / 57.14 (14, 0)
Head: lbw - b Broad / 7 / 21 / 33.33 (1, 0)
Wade: c Burns - b Broad / 6 / 45 / 13.33 (1, 0)
Paine: c Buttler - b Archer / 23 / 70 / 32.86 (2, 0)
Cummins: c Bairstow - b Broad / 20 / 80 / 25.00 (3, 0)
Siddle: c Bairstow - b Woakes / 9 / 31 / 29.03 (1, 0)
Lyon: lbw - b Leach / 6 / 17 / 35.29 (0, 0)
Hazlewood: not out / 3 / 4 / 75.00 (0, 0)
Extras 1nb 2w 17b 12lb 32
Total (94.3 overs) 250 all out
Bowler: Overs / Maidens / Runs / Wickets / Econ
Broad: 27.3 / 7 / 65 / 4 / 2.36
Archer: 29.0 / 11 / 59 / 2 / 2.03
Woakes: 19.0 / 6 / 61 / 3 / 3.21
Stokes: 8.0 / 1 / 17 / 0 / 2.12
Leach: 11.0 / 3 / 19 / 1 / 1.73
Fall of Wicket - Batsman
11-1 (4.2 ovs) - Warner
60-2 (22.5 ovs) - Bancroft
60-3 (23.2 ovs) - Khawaja
71-4 (30.1 ovs) - Head
102-5 (44.2 ovs) - Wade
162-6 (66.6 ovs) - Paine
218-7 (85.2 ovs) - Siddle
234-8 (87.5 ovs) - Smith
246-9 (93.1 ovs) - Lyon
250-10 (94.3 ovs) - Cummins
England Second Innings
Batsman: How Out - Bowler / Runs / Balls / SR (4s, 6s)
Burns: c Paine - b Siddle / 29 / 52 / 55.77 (3, 0)
Roy: c & b - Cummins / 2 / 13 / 15.38 (0, 0)
Root: c Paine - b Cummins / 0 / 1 / 0.00 (0, 0)
Denly: c & b Siddle / 26 / 51 / 50.98 (4, 0)
Stokes: not out / 115 / 165 / 69.70 (11, 3)
Buttler: c Hazlewood - b Cummins / 31 / 108 / 28.70 (3, 0)
Bairstow: not out / 30 / 37 / 81.08 (1, 2)
Extras 1nb 0w 5b 19lb 25
Total (71.0 overs) 258-5 dec
Bowler: Overs / Maidens / Runs / Wickets / Econ
Cummins: 17.0 / 6 / 35 / 3 / 2.06
Hazlewood: 13.0 / 1 / 43 / 0 / 3.31
Siddle: 15.0 / 4 / 54 / 2 / 3.60
Lyon: 26.0 / 3 / 102 / 0 / 3.92
Fall of Wicket - Batsman
9-1 (4.1 ovs) - Roy
9-2 (4.2 ovs) - Root
64-3 (18.5 ovs) - Denly
71-4 (20.2 ovs) - Burns
161-5 (56.6 ovs) - Buttler
Australia Second Innings
Batsman: How Out - Bowler / Runs / Balls / SR (4s, 6s)
Bancroft: lbw - b Leach / 16 / 40 / 40.00 (2, 0)
Warner: c Burns - b Archer / 5 / 11 / 45.45 (1, 0)
Khawaja: c Bairstow - b Archer / 2 / 6 / 33.33 (0, 0)
Labuschagne: c Root - b Leach / 59 / 100 / 59.00 (8, 0)
Head: not out / 42 / 90 / 46.67 (9, 0)
Wade: c Buttler - b Leach / 1 / 5 / 20.00 (0, 0)
Paine: c Denly - b Archer / 4 / 17 / 23.53 (1, 0)
Cummins not out / 1 / 17 / 5.88 (0, 0)
Extras 1nb 1w 8b 14lb 24
Total (47.3 overs) 154-6
Bowler: Overs / Maidens / Runs / Wickets / Econ
Broad: 7.0 / 0 / 29 / 0 / 4.14
Archer: 15.0 / 2 / 32 / 3 / 2.13
Woakes: 3.0 / 0 / 11 / 0 / 3.67
Leach: 16.3 / 5 / 37 / 3 / 2.24
Stokes: 3.0 / 1 / 16 / 0 / 5.33
Root: 1.0 / 0 / 7 / 0 / 7.00
Denly: 2.0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0.00
Fall of Wicket - Batsman
13-1 (3.3 ovs) - Warner
19-2 (5.3 ovs) - Khawaja
47-3 (13.6 ovs) - Bancroft
132-4 (35.6 ovs) - Labuschagne
138-5 (37.1 ovs) - Wade
149-6 (40.6 ovs) - Paine
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
Match drawn (England 0-1 Australia)
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
Match drawn (England 0-1 Australia)
22-26 August
Third Test, Headingley
4-8 September
Fourth Test, Old Trafford
12-16 September
Fifth Test, The Oval
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