Australia have defied losing the toss and disruption from protesters to establish a commanding lead in the second Ashes Test against England.
On a gloomy morning at Lord's, fans of the Baggy Greens would have been concerned when their team lost the toss, but they countered that disappointment with a dominant display in London to reach stumps on 339-5
Each of their top five batsmen contributed in some way, but David Warner (66), Steven Smith (85*) and Travis Head (77) all compiled tremendous innings to leave England in a position where a draw - an outcome not favoured by Ben Stokes - may already be the best possible result.
Before Australia found their stride, the game was interrupted by two 'Just Stop Oil' protesters making it onto the outfield and coming close to covering the pitch.
Stokes and Jonny Bairstow played their part in intervening - the latter carrying one protester to the boundary - and the brief delay seemed to only aid Australia.
© Reuters
Warner rolled back the years with a spritely 66 from 88 deliveries before his dismissal after lunch, with the only wicket that Australia suffered in the morning session - that of Usman Khawaja for 17 - coming in the final over as he left a Josh Tongue delivery that clattered into his stumps.
Warner fell by the same method, with Tongue producing an unplayable inswinger that hit the top of his leg stump, and that brought Smith to the crease to partner Marnus Labuschagne.
England thought that they had removed Smith early when a noise accompanied a ball from Stuart Broad finding Bairstow's gloves, but Smith - who later reached 9,000 runs in the Test arena - was reprieved when replays showed no contact was made with his outside edge.
Smith and Labuschagne put on 102 for the third wicket until the latter clipped an Ollie Robinson ball behind his stumps for 47, bringing Head to the crease.
While Smith continued to keep runs ticking over, Head went on the offensive, producing a ruthless 77 from 73 balls - hitting 14 fours - before Joe Root took two wickets in an over.
After Head was stumped, new batsman Cameron Green clubbed a shot to James Anderson for a three-ball duck, but Alex Carey (11*) helped steady the ship alongside Smith to get Australia to the close of play on the brink of putting themselves in complete control.
Darren Plant
