A blistering critique from David Warner and a series of costly fielding errors defined a dramatic second day of the second Ashes Test at Lord's, leaving Australia in a strong position despite a late-order stumble.
Warner's Stinging Rebuke of Green's Dismissal
The day's most contentious moment came when all-rounder Cameron Green was bowled by Brydon Carse, sparking a furious reaction from former Australian opener and current commentator David Warner. Green had been building a steady partnership with Steve Smith, taking Australia to a comfortable 3-291 in reply to England's 334, before his dismissal triggered a mini-collapse.
Warner did not hold back in his analysis, singling out Green's technique as fundamentally flawed. "It's baffling, you're six-and-a-half foot tall, it's ridiculous to keep moving around like that and playing white-ball style cricket," Warner said on Channel 7. He argued that Green's excessive movement made him vulnerable, a point proven when Carse hit the stumps.
England's Fielding Woes Keep Australia Afloat
Australia's position could have been far more precarious had England held their catches. The visitors were the beneficiaries of five dropped catches, with four of those spills occurring in a chaotic final session. Wicketkeeper Alex Carey, unbeaten on 46, and tailender Michael Neser (15 not out) were both handed reprieves by Ben Duckett and Brydon Carse respectively.
These errors allowed Australia to reach stumps at 6-378, a lead of 44 runs, with a new ball due early on day three. Their aggressive approach, yielding a run rate of 5.18, ultimately paid dividends despite the loss of wickets.
Mixed Reactions to Australia's Aggressive Batting
Top-scorer Jake Weatherald, who made 72, defended the team's intent, even while acknowledging some recklessness. "We have a lead before the next new ball because of the shots we've been playing," he stated. "You'd probably say some of the shots were a bit reckless at times but at the same time, they backed themselves in. That's what we want to do."
Despite the advantage, England's Joe Root remained optimistic about his side's chances of levelling the series. "I don't think we're massively out of the game at all," Root insisted. "I think we're actually not too far behind it, as long as we get things right tomorrow." The stage is set for a crucial third day, with Australia looking to build a substantial lead and England desperate for early wickets.
