Ashes: Smith’s 143 helps Australia dominate England on Day two

At stumps on the second day of the fifth Test, England had slumped to 107 for eight in reply to Australia’s first innings 481 – a huge deficit of 374 runs.

England have only two wickets in hand and need a further 175 runs to pass the follow-on mark.

Smith became the leading run-scorer of the series and the first Australian since Matthew Elliott in 1997 to score 500 runs in an away Ashes.

In putting on 146 with Australia’s captain-elect Steve Smith, Voges looked more the batsman who led all scorers in last year’s Shield season, rather than the disappointment which has been on display this series.

Nathan Lyon started the rot when he ended the second session with a magnificent delivery that turned sharply and kissed the top of Alastair Cook’s off stump.

Jonny Bairstow’s skittish innings either side of tea ended with an inside-edge to short-leg off Lyon, the first of two wickets in an over for the off-spinner – who had Ben Stokes for a fourth-ball duck, via an attempted push-drive and edge to slip.

England, following on 332 runs behind, misplaced Adam Lyth (10), Ian Bell (13) and Joe Root (eleven) cheaply in heat sunshine in south London.

Australia captain Michael Clarke asked England to follow-on and saw his side take regular wickets, Peter Siddle the pick of the bowlers with figures of one for 14 off 16 overs.

Adam Voges (76) and Mitchell Starc (58) were other notable contributors for the tourists.

Smith flashed hard at the very next delivery from Steven Finn and keeper Buttler took the catch, but the bowler immediately returned to the crease to check his footmark and replays confirmed that he had overstepped by several inches.

“We’ve had a fantastic series (but) there’s been some unusual cricket, some bad days and they really cost you at this level”.

Nothing went right for England on day two at The Oval, with Peter Siddle and Mitchell Marsh vindicating their recall to the Australia squad by bagging their share of the wickets.

Australia’s batsmen continued a belated show of steel before their English counter-parts bottled it on a dramatic second day of the fifth test yesterday.

Clarke scored 15 in the first innings of dead rubber, ending potentially his final Test knock by reviewing a caught-behind dismissal.

There were more nervy moments for Smith in the 90s before he took a quick single off Moeen Ali to post his fourth hundred of 2015.

Captain-in-waiting Steve Smith pummelled his way to an imposing 143, giving Australia a strong score on 481.