LONDON // Paceman Mitchell Johnson was satisfied with the state of play at stumps on Day 2 of the second Test at Lord’s on Friday after Australia ripped through England’s top order.
England slumped to 30 for four before rallying to 84 without further loss at the close as Johnson (2-16), Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc did the damage.
It meant Alastair Cook’s side ended the day 481 runs behind with six wickets in hand after Steve Smith’s 215 took Australia to 566 for eight declared.
“It’s a nice picture to have on Day 2,” Johnson said. “The batters set us up and the bowlers have given it our all this afternoon. We had a few overs at the English and the guys stuck really well to the plans. We’ve started this Test really well after the disappointment in Cardiff, but we knew when we got here we would have more of a chance with a wicket that would probably have more bounce. It’s marginal but it still feels a bit nicer and that slope has come into play for sure.”
Johnson said he was enjoying bowling on the Lord’s slope.
“It gives me something else if the ball’s not swinging,” he said. “It didn’t swing towards the end of the day so you’ve got to use those conditions out there.”
England bowler Stuart Broad, who took four for 83 in Australia’s first innings, said the match was allowed to slide after a 20-minute switch-off by his side.
Of the mood in the dressing room, Broad said: “Brighter after the application that ‘Cooky’ and ‘Stokesy’ (Ben Stokes) showed at the end. It’s given the guys a lot of hope that there’s not too many demons in this wicket.
“Anyone who’s played or watched a lot of cricket will realise that if you’ve been in the field for that length of time, Australia batted well to get that score, there’s always tricky periods.
“It was probably a mental switch-off for 20 minutes that hurt us with those four wickets. We probably didn’t switch to the game plan that we talked about and just mentally switched off for a period of time which in Test match cricket you can’t afford to do.”
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