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Ashes 2017/18: 5th Test, Day 2 - 5 things we learnt from the day

Australia v England - Third Test: Day 2
Smith and Khawaja stood firm for the hosts on day 2.

Half-centuries from David Warner and Usman Khawaja and a Steven Smith special in the offing means that Australia hold the edge against England at the end of day 2 in the fifth and final Test at Sydney. A shaky Khawaja overcame his series woes to compile a fine half-century and raced into the 90s in the final over of the day.

Earlier, England's tail wagged with Stuart Broad and Tom Curran giving the visitors a worthy total although it still seems a tad less on this wicket.

Although Broad got rid of Bancroft early, Warner and Khawaja worked hard to steady the ship. The former fell to an Anderson off-cutter but Khawaja and Smith held the fort till stumps.

#5 England's tail wag

England v India: 5th Investec Test - Day Three
Broad stood tall against the short stuff and frustrated Australia

The hosts must have thought Dawid Malan's departure would pave the way for an England lower order collapse but they did not quite account for Stuart Broad and Ton Curran's antics with the bat. The Aussie seamers steamed in and bowled a barrage of short stuff against the tail-enders but the duo stood calm and attacked them.

They put on a 41 run partnership in no time that frustrated the Aussies. Perhaps, the hosts didn't realise that although Broad has struggled against the short ball since Varun Aaron struck him on the helmet grille a few years back, it is the full balls that still lead to his downfall.

Perhaps the hosts should realise that CricViz had estimated Broad's average against bouncers since the mishap as 74 and against full balls as 9.8 during South Africa's England tour last year.

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