LAWRENCE BOOTH AT LORD'S: The descent from cloud nine to terra firma is the oldest of sporting journeys, but for England on Thursday it was a reminder that success against Australia rarely comes cheap. If the euphoria of Cardiff encouraged premature comparisons to 2005, then the manner in which Chris Rogers and Steve Smith ground England down on a desperately sluggish Lord’s pitch prompted flashbacks to the dark Ashes days of the 1990s. As things stand, neither extreme applies just yet. But one thing is clear: Michael Clarke’s team, sitting pretty on 337 for one in this second Investec Test, are damned if they’re giving up the urn without a fight. By the end of a day in which England barely made the ball whisper, let alone talk, only two results are plausible. Barring something Bothamesque, it will not be 2-0 going to Edgbaston. ...read
LATEST ASHES 2015 NEWS PLUS SCORES AND SCHEDULE
England didn't turn up for the first day of action at Lord's... but that's OK, Mick Hucknall was a no-show as well - BUMBLE AT THE TEST
BUMBLE AT THE TEST: Sportsmail columnist and Sky Sports pundit David Lloyd looks back on an eventful day of action involving hardcore fans and Bob Willis’s wedding reception in Mortlake.
England must avoid gung-ho approach after their opening day collapse at Lord's
MARTIN SAMUEL AT LORD'S: A different team now, Australia. The million dollar question, though, is: can the same be said of England?
Ashes 2015 day one at a glance: Steve Smith and Chris Rogers star as Australia dominate opening stages of second Test
Australia moved into a commanding position in the second Ashes Test after an impressive opening day at Lord's. Here's a round-up of the best action from day one.
Michael Clarke's luck may have changed after his ‘heads’ call prior to Thursday's Test opener, but Ian Bell will be disappointed with his costly spill
THE TOP SPIN - LAWRENCE BOOTH: David Warner's peach of a cover drive off Mark Wood. With beautiful timing, his checked punch shot galloped through the covers.
England are playing a dangerous game by ordering slow and low pitches to combat Australia pace in the Ashes
SAM PETERS: For all the talk of care-free, attack-minded cricket, the only conclusion that can be drawn from the two pitches we’ve seen so far, is that England are worried Australia’s pace attack
The Ashes DAY ONE RECAP 2015: England vs Australia cricket score from the second Test at Lord’s
England go into the second Ashes Test at Lord's with the momentum after a convincing win at Cardiff. Join JONNY SINGER for all the action with updates from LAWRENCE BOOTH.
Australia's Steve Smith and Chris Rogers showed patience as they waited for Moeen Ali to bowl the bad ball to take control of second Ashes Test... unlike David Warner
NASSER HUSSAIN: The way Australia batted following David Warner's wildly irresponsible shot showed they had learned some very important lessons about how to play Moeen Ali.
Cardiff was a stunning setting to watch Moeen Ali's heroics- BUMBLE AT THE TEST
Sportsmail columnist and Sky Sports pundit David Lloyd looks back at a dramatic second day of Ashes action involving umpire decisions, water taxis, and an encounter with Trevor Bayliss.
Shane Watson's 'poor' lbw decision caused some arguments in the commentary box - BUMBLE AT THE TEST
Sportsmail columnist and Sky Sports pundit David Lloyd looks back on the third day of Ashes action involving arguments over umpire decisions, Ian Bell and the Cambrian Tap.
Australia WAGs watch on at Lord's as their partners put England bowlers to the sword on first day of second Ashes Test
Australia's WAGs watched on at Lord's on day one of the second Ashes Test as their partners dominated with the bat against England on Thursday. Michael Clarke's wife, Kyly, was among them.
Moeen Ali set to be fit for England's second Ashes Test against Australia at Lord's despite fears over all-rounder's side injury
Alastair Cook is confident that Moeen Ali will be fit to take his place in the second Test at Lord's after giving England an injury scare in the build-up to the match. Moeen felt pain in his side.
Shane Watson 'dropped' from Australia team for next Ashes Test against England and replaced by Mitchell Marsh
Shane Watson has been dropped from the Australia team for this week's second Ashes Test against England and will be replaced by fellow all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, according to reports.
Joe Root is the 360 degree genius... he's ticking nearly every box for England ahead of the second Ashes Test at Lord's
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England's current bowling crop on par with Class of 2005, believe Ashes heroes Simon Jones and Matthew Hoggard
Two stars of the 2005 Ashes series have made comparisons between the pace attack who helped end an 18-year duck against Australia and their present-day counterparts.
Now it's Australia reeling! Brad Haddin withdraws as setbacks pile up ahead of second Ashes Test against England
PAUL NEWMAN: It is all becoming horribly familiar to those who were subjected to England’s humiliation barely 18 months ago. Only this time the boot is very much on the other foot.
Bowled over by England's cricketing cuties: Alastair Cook, Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson lead handsome Ashes stars trying to topple Australia
England's bat-wielding idols include cherubic-looking bowler Stuart Broad, 29, right, 30-year-old squad captain Alastair Cook, top right, and strapping bowler Steven Finn, 26, bottom right.
Brad Haddin to miss second Ashes Test due to personal reasons as Darren Lehmann considers handing the gloves to back-up wicketkeeper Peter Nevill
LAWRENCE BOOTH: Australia’s Ashes tour was in crisis after experienced wicketkeeper Brad Haddin pulled out of the second Test for personal reasons and Shane Watson was dropped.
England will continue to invite Australia for post-match drinks despite Michael Clarke snub following first Ashes Test
England will carry on inviting the Australians into their dressing room for a beer and a chat after each Test of the Ashes even though Michael Clarke refused their offer to join them in Cardiff.
Shane Watson dropped by Australia and replaced by Mitchell Marsh for second Ashes Test with England at Lord's
Shane Watson has been dropped from the Australia team to face England in the second Investec Ashes Test at Lord's and will be replaced by Mitchell Marsh
Andrew Strauss, Shane Warne and Wasim Akram among cricket stars to go head-to-head at Sir Ian Botham's 60th birthday bash
Andrew Strauss, Shane Warne and a host of other cricketing legends are set to take to the field for charity at Sir Ian Botham's 60th birthday bash later this month
Australia captain Michael Clarke draws on life lessons to keep sense of perspective in Ashes series but insists his love for cricket has not changed since he was seven
Australia captain Michael Clarke is playing in his seventh Ashes – and over the years has learned a thing or two about what really matters due to the death of his Phil Hughes and his dad's illness.
England vs Australia - Ashes 2015 cricket score: Follow the second Test from Lord’s
England hope to press home their advantage against Australia in the second Investec Ashes Test, which gets underway at Lord's on Thursday. Follow the latest score here
Australia captain Michael Clarke suggests selectors leaked Shane Watson's axing... as Jason Gillespie admits tourists don't trust 'wind-up merchant' James Anderson
Michael Clarke was under mounting pressure ahead of Thursday's second Test at Lord’s after he appeared to criticise Australia’s selectors for leaking news of Shane Watson’s axing before telling him.
England look to extend advantage over Australia in the second Ashes Test... But aren't we rubbish at Lord's?
England face Australia in the second Test of the Ashes series at Lord's on Thursday knowing their opponents will be keen on revenge at the famous venue. Sportsmail looks at the fixture's history.
England must kick vulnerable Australia while they're down in second Ashes Test at Lord's... It's time to go for the knock-out!
PAUL NEWMAN: This is their moment. England will never have a better chance to take advantage of an unusually vulnerable Australia and attack them while they are down. They must grab it.
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum on how to cope with the slope at Lord's ahead of second Ashes Test
Sportsmail's Ashes columnist Brendon McCullum shows how to set up your slips at Lord's ahead of the second Ashes Test after England's win in Cardiff.
England will keep collective attacking intent at Lord's, claims captain Alastair Cook
Alastair Cook has told England they must stay true to themselves in the second Ashes Test Lord's, because that is their best chance of beating Australia again, having prevailed in Cardiff.
Bumble's guide to Lord's: This is no Ugly Mugs at Headingley, expect to pay a premium for food and drink... and it's smart dress not fancy dress at the home of cricket
BUMBLE'S GUIDE: Lord's is like no other cricket ground in the world. I always look forward to coming down to St John's Wood because of the tradition and because it's an event.
Champions League Twenty20 tournament scrapped due to lack of fan interest
Cricket's Champions League Twenty20 tournament has been discontinued due to a lack of interest from fans, organisers have announced.
England and Wales Cricket Board issues disciplinary reminders to all counties
The England and Wales Cricket Board has written to all counties about the rising number of disciplinary offences.
Ben Stokes says Australia's 'silly' antics will not get to him ahead of second Ashes Test
LAWRENCE BOOTH: Ben Stokes has described Australia’s behaviour during the first Test as ‘pretty silly’ after David Warner and Nathan Lyon tried to distract him by getting into his space.
Sachin Tendulkar's son Arjun joins England in the nets at Lord's ahead of second Ashes Test with Australia
England's preparations for the second Ashes Test continued on Wednesday when Arjun Tendulkar, son of Indian legend Sachin, bowled with them in the nets at Lord's
Michael Clarke admits on eve of second Ashes Test that he still doesn't know if under pressure Shane Watson will play
The mystery over Shane Watson’s Test future deepened on Wednesday when Michael Clarke insisted he did not know whether the all-rounder will be picked for the second Test.
Australian wicket keeper Brad Haddin withdraws from Ashes test for 'family reasons'... a year after revealing he would never put sport ahead of home following his baby daughter's cancer diagnosis
Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (pictured) was forced to pull out of the second Ashes Test, citing family reasons. But this is not the first time the father has put his family first.
Peter Nevill will replace Brad Haddin in the second Ashes Test... but who is he?
Brad Haddin has withdrawn from the squad for the second Ashes Test at Lord's, citing personal reasons. Peter Nevill will replace him, but what more do you need to know about the New South Wales star?
England put through their paces ahead of second Ashes Test at Lord's as Adam Lyth hopes to continue batting form
England stepped up their preparation for the second Test of the Ashes series as they were put through their paces on Tuesday and Alastair Cook and Co were in high spirits.
Fine dining at the Ashes Test, shopping in London with girls and castles in Cardiff: Pregnant Kyly Clarke's hides her bump as she enjoys idyllic babymoon with Michael
Pregnant Kyly Clarke perched on a stone wall in Cardiff in a snap that was perhaps deliberately taken from afar to keep eyes away from her burgeoning bump.
James Faulkner to miss Australia's limited-overs series with England after being hit with four-match ban for drink-driving
All-Rounder James Faulkner will miss the limited-overs leg of Australia's tour of England for disciplinary reasons after being charged with drink-driving.
Mitchell Starc trains with Australia at Lord's ahead of second Ashes Test vs England
Lord's has traditionally been a happy hunting ground for Australia in the past, and the tourists appeared in a relaxed mood as they trained there before the start of the second Ashes Test.
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