The Ashes 2025 second Test day two LIVE updates: England all-out for 334 after Marnus stunner; Head opens for Australia
Picking up again with Australia’s sluggish over rate – because it deserves greater scrutiny – even though they’ve bowled England out in 76.2 overs and won’t face any punishment.
At 9-264, at the start of the 68th over, skipper Steve Smith had an extended chat to bowler Scott Boland at the top of his run-up. Umpire Adrian Holdstock approached Smith and appeared to ask him to hurry up. It took 53 seconds from when the camera was first on Smith to when Root faced up to bat.
After two deliveries, wicketkeeper Alex Carey was given a helmet, and Smith was shown walking back with Boland, before dashing back to slip. That took about 40 seconds.
After four deliveries, Archer was on strike, and Smith was shown again changing his field. That over lasted six minutes.
In the following over, delivered by Mitchell Starc, Seven commentator James Brayshaw pointed out the go-slow. Ricky Ponting joked: “If I was Jake Weatherald … the shoelaces would be coming undone every second step.”
After four deliveries of the Starc over, a helmet was run on for Head, who went to short-leg with Archer on strike. Smith continued to wave his hands about, sending fielders into the deep. As Ponting pointed out, the Australians were already six overs behind.
But after just one delivery, Head threw his helmet to Carey, and went to deep long-off, while Marnus Labuschagne was sent to the deep square leg area.
The 70th over, from Boland, was punished by Archer, the first delivery muscled over wide fine leg for six. There was more change in the field after a skied second delivery landed safely in the deep.
After the fifth ball, Smith took himself to third man with Root on strike. All fielders were in the deep, but Root found a gap at wide long-on for four. There were 19 runs scored from that over, and overs 68 to 70 took a combined 18 minutes to complete.
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