Australia takes 3 early wickets before England recovers to 80-3 by lunch on day 1 of 2nd test

LONDON – Australia took an early stranglehold in the second Ashes test against England on Thursday by taking three wickets after being asked to bowl in placid batting conditions to leave the hosts on 80-3 at lunch on the opening day.

Alastair Cook, Joe Root and Kevin Pietersen departed within the first six overs as England lost 3-10 in 11 balls to be reduced to 28-3 at Lord’s. Jonathan Trott was 34 not out and Ian Bell unbeaten on 23 at the interval to help repair the damage.

Fast bowler Ryan Harris made a successful comeback after replacing Mitchell Starc in the team, taking 2-21 from nine overs. Shane Watson claimed the other wicket to fall and had figures of 1-12 from four overs.

Watson claimed the first wicket by removing Cook lbw for 12 with the total on 18. The left-handed captain tentatively stayed on the back foot and was defeated by a delivery that cut back into him. It was inspirational captaincy by Michael Clarke to bring the medium-pacer on in the fifth over for what proved to be only a one-over spell.

England’s batting was shook further in the sixth over when Harris trapped Root lbw for 6 and then had Pietersen caught behind four balls later for 2. Root reviewed his dismissal and the replay showed a deflection onto his bat, but it was not conclusive enough to show the ball had struck the pad second to have the umpire’s decision overturned.

Pietersen walked after his faint edge to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, at a time when sportsmanship in the series has been questioned following Stuart Broad’s decision to stand his ground in the first test despite clearly edging behind the wicket.

Bell and Trott were intent on survival for the remainder of the morning in an effort to consolidate England’s first innings. Both batsmen still punished the occasional wayward delivery, with Bell and Trott elegantly cover-driving Harris for four in the 18th and 24th overs, respectively.

Earlier, Australia dropped left-arm fast bowler Starc in favour of Harris and No. 3 batsman Usman Khawaja came in for Ed Cowan.

England made one change with fast bowler Steven Finn replaced by allrounder Tim Bresnan, who is expected to offer the England attack more control with an economy rate of 2.96 against Finn’s 3.65. He will also add depth to England’s batting.

England won the first test by 14 runs on Sunday as Australia narrowly fell short of a ground-record run chase of 311, bringing comparisons to another Ashes thriller at Edgbaston in 2005. England is seeking to win the Ashes for the third straight series.

The match began 15 minutes later than normal, at 1115 (GMT), as both teams lined up to meet Queen Elizabeth II.