Australia level Ashes series with 405-run win

Australia have won the second Ashes Test by 405 runs, crushing England on the fourth day at Lords to level the series at 1-1.

Australia's Peter Nevill, Josh Hazlewood, David Warner, Steve Smith, Mitchell Marsh celebrate after winning the 2nd test

Australia's Peter Nevill, Josh Hazlewood, David Warner, Steve Smith, Mitchell Marsh celebrate after winning the 2nd test Source: Press Association

Australia delivered a "kick in the teeth" to England at Lord's, squaring the Ashes series in a fashion that had Alastair Cook scrambling for answers.

Michael Clarke's men made it four consecutive days of domination to post a 405-run victory in the second Test, skittling England for 103 in just 37 overs on Sunday.

The embarrassment came after Clarke and his colleagues added 146 runs in 23 overs during the morning session.

Man of the match Steve Smith scored 58 off 48 balls with a combination of trick shots and power strokes, further demoralising England's quicks on a supposedly docile pitch.

Worse was to come after Clarke's pre-lunch declaration at 2-254.

Mitchell Johnson claimed the vital scalp of Cook amid a top order collapse of 5-40 in the middle session.

Johnson sent down a double-wicket maiden after tea, both dismissals earned through express pace.

The meek manner in which England capitulated, coupled with Smith's maiden double-century, will further boost Australia's confidence as they seek to go 2-1 up at Edgbaston on July 29.

The turnaround from Australia's 169-run loss at Cardiff could hardly be more emphatic.

Now it is England's batting, bowling, fielding and selectors under immense scrutiny.

"Today was the icing on the cake for them and for us a real kick in the teeth," Cook conceded.

"To get bowled out on that kind of wicket for 103 is not good enough.

"Not acceptable. Not up to the standard that the guys can play.

"From the first morning they got on top of us and never let us back in the game."

Clarke believed Australia's excellence had more to do with the result than England's ineptitude.

"The boys were switched on. I sensed that hunger, from the senior players in particular," Clarke said.

"We were outplayed in Cardiff. Credit to the boys to be able to turn that around.

"Before we left the changeroom in Cardiff ... it was discussed where we didn't perform well and the positives were also spoken about."

Smith's epic 284-run partnership with Chris Rogers, an Australian record at Lord's, put the game on the visitors' terms and Johnson hammered home the advantage on days two and four.

Shane Warne suggested on Sky Sports that England "still fear" Johnson, who claimed 37 wickets in the 2013-14 series.

Clarke wouldn't go that far, but was impressed with how his strike weapon snared six wickets in the match.

"He's fit and strong so he can bowl long spells if required or he can come on and bowl in short bursts," he said.

"The whole attack deserves credit because the way they bowled allows me to use Mitchell the way I did in this Test."

Australia's next assignment is a three-day tour game against Derbyshire that starts on Thursday.

The majority of the Test XI are likely to be rested, but Clarke is keen to take part.

"I'll have to speak to the selectors and see if they'll pick me, but I'd like to," he said.

"I'd like to spend some more time in the middle."


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Source: AAP


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