Ashes 2013: 2nd Test, Day 1 - Heroes of the Day

Steve Smith and Phil Hughes of Australia celebrate after Smith took the wicket of Jonny Bairstow of England during day one of the 2nd Ashes Test at Lord’s Cricket Ground on July 18, 2013 in London, England. (Getty Images)

After a lovely opening ceremony at Lord’s, with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II greeting players of both teams and former Australia captain Steve Waugh ringing the famous bell, it was back to business as the second Ashes Test got underway.

Almost on expected lines, England were struggling at 28/3 before recovering to post a healthy 289/7 at stumps. Both sides made a few changes – England replaced Steven Finn with Tim Bresnan, while Australia brought in Usman Khawaja and Ryan Harris for Ed Cowan and Mitchell Starc, respectively.

Here are the heroes for the day:

Ian Bell (109 runs off 211 balls – 16 fours)

Warwickshire batsman Ian Bell seems to be on fire this season. After an identical knock in the second innings of the first Test, the 31-year-old conjured up yet another masterpiece while holding the England middle-order together.

Pace and spin did not trouble him at all, as he set about re-building the innings through solid partnerships – 99 runs with Jonathan Trott (58) and 144 with young Jonny Bairstow (67).

However, all-rounder Steven Smith had the last laugh as he removed the entrenched Bell for a well-made 109. This was his third Ashes century on the trot, and second consecutive one in this series.

Jonny Bairstow (67 runs off 146 balls – 7 fours)

Jonny Bairstow maybe lacklustre at times, but he does have temperament. Coming in with England reeling at 127/4, Bairstow combined well with the experienced Bell for a mammoth 144-run stand that frustrated Australia to no end.

He hit some crisp boundaries, the highlight of which was a superb on-drive off the recalled Harris – with his head position perfectly in line with the ball.

Bairstow was looking good for more when he played a rather atrocious shot to a poorly-bowled, low full-toss from Smith, giving the bowler a return catch and his second wicket.

Jonathan Trott (58 runs off 87 balls – 11 fours)

The South Africa-born No.3 batsman has looked in good touch so far. With the openers and Kevin Pietersen flopping again, Trott stepped up his game as he raised the first long partnership of England’s innings with fellow Warwickshire batsman Bell, adding 99 runs for the fourth wicket.

44 of his 58 runs came in boundaries as Trott played his shots at will. He became the third victim of Harris, giving the bowler his 50th Test wicket. Trott needs to convert his starts into substantial scores if England are to shut Australia out of the series.

Ryan Harris (3/43 in 20 overs)

Pacer Ryan Harris is known to be a favourite of Coach Darren Lehmann. He justified Boof’s faith by delivering an impressive performance with the red cherry, bagging three key English batsmen.

Harris first took out opener Joe Root, trapping him lbw. He then accounted for the maverick Pietersen with a delivery outside off stump, producing an edge that was comfortably snapped up by Brad Haddin behind the stumps.

Finally, he reached the coveted landmark of 50 Test wickets by dismissing the free-flowing Trott with a short delivery on middle. With Harris now bolstering the pace attack, Australia seem to have got the sting back in their bowling.

Steven Smith (3/18 in 6 overs)

The young all-rounder showed glimpses of his potential when he played in the IPL for the Pune franchise. After scoring a half-century in the first game, Smith was chosen to bowl his innocuous leg-spin against the well-set pair of Bell and Bairstow, and he turned the game on its head in his first over.

The 24-year-old dismissed Bell with a flighted delivery that he edged to Michael Clarke at slip, then took out Bairstow with a low full toss and sent Matt Prior packing by having him caught behind by Haddin. His three-wicket haul might just have brought Australia back into the game.