|| Desk Report ||

England opener Rory Burns struck his maiden century to put England in the driving seat on the second day of the first Test of Ashes 2019.

At the close of the day, Burns was batting on 125 runs after hitting 16 fours in an innings facing off 282 balls. Ben Stokes was on 38.

England, however, ended the day on 267-4, 17 runs adrift of Australia’s first innings total of 284.

Apart from Burns, English captain Joe Root has also played a good knock of 57 runs from 119 balls. Other than that all the other English batsmen got out pretty quickly. Jason Roy scored 10, Joe Denly scored 18 and Jos Buttler scored 5.

Australian bowlers found it hard to pick up wickets on the second day. James Pattinson is the pick of the bowlers of Australia after picking up 2-54.

Pat Cummins and Peter Siddle picked up one apiece. Off-spinner Nathan Lyon went wicket-less so far after delivering 28 overs.

On the first day, Australia accumulated a respectable total of 284 runs on the board with the help of the magnificent Steve Smith century as he scored 144 runs.  Peter Siddle's useful 44 runs down the order also helped Australia to reach the total. England pacer Stuart Broad picked up five wickets for England on the first day.    

Australia 1st innings: 284/10 

( Smith 144, Siddle 44: Broad: 5/ 86)