Australia 566-8 dec & 254-2 dec: Warner 83, Smith 58, Moeen 2-78

England 312 & 103: Broad 25, Johnson 3-27

Australia won by 405 runs

Australia thrashed England by 405 runs on the fourth evening at Lord's to level the Ashes series at 1-1.

The hosts collapsed after lunch on the fourth day and were bundled out for 103 in just 37 overs, with Mitchell Johnson taking three wickets.

None of England's recognised batsmen made more than 17 runs as Stuart Broad top-scored with 25.
Australia had earlier reached 254-2 declared in their second innings, leaving England to bat 155 overs to save the game.

That they fell so woefully short raises serious questions about the calibre and make-up of a team that only a week ago stunned Australia by winning the first Test in Cardiff by 169 runs.

And after England's top order once again crumbled, the selectors will surely ponder changes before the series resumes at Edgbaston on 29 July.

For Australia, such a swift and categorical riposte to the defeat in south Wales will bolster their belief that they can pull off their first Ashes win in England since 2001.

Mother of all collapses

The relative calm with which Alastair Cook and Adam Lyth negotiated two overs before lunch offered no indication of the pandemonium that was to follow the interval.

Lyth, Cook and Gary Ballance were all caught behind, the captain to a particularly frivolous swing away from his body.

Ian Bell led a charmed life as he ground out 50 balls for 11 runs before poking forward at Nathan Lyon and popping a catch to short leg.

Daftest dismissal?

The real nadir arrived when the in-form Ben Stokes threw his wicket away in diabolical circumstances.

Running through for a comfortable single, he had made up his ground by the time Johnson's throw shattered the stumps.

Crucially, however, Stokes neglected to slide his bat into the crease and was in mid-air when the ball hit, meaning he had to go.

More turmoil after tea

The tea interval ostensibly gave England a chance to gather their thoughts and steel themselves for a plucky fight to the close.

In theory, but not in practice.

In the space of five balls from Johnson, five wickets had become seven as Jos Buttler nicked behind before Moeen Ali flinched at a bouncer and looped a catch off the splice to short leg.

Broad briefly flung the bat to collect five boundaries but when he chipped Lyon to cover, England were 101-8.

Only two further runs were added before Josh Hazlewood bowled Joe Root and James Anderson in successive overs to send Australia into raptures.

Rogers concern

England's frenzied showing on a placid pitch contrasted with the serenity of Australia's performance in the morning session as they added 146 runs to set England a notional 509 to win.

David Warner made 83 and Steve Smith 58 after Chris Rogers had been forced to retire on 49.
The left-handed opener, 37, suffered a sudden dizzy spell and was escorted to the dressing room, where he rested for the remainder of the match.

Rogers missed two Tests in West Indies in June and was struck on the head by Anderson on the morning of the second day.

Captains View : 

England captain Alastair Cook: "To not back up our win at Cardiff is incredibly frustrating. Credit to Australia, they put us under pressure and we weren't able to deal with it. We didn't bowl with the same discipline and control. Over the last few games, we have been three down for 40-odd and that is an area of concern.

"We have to take this on the chin. Now it's about the character we need to show to bounce back. We came up short this week. I don't think it's about where people bat, it's down to the players, they just have to get stuck in. You've seen over the last eight days that the side which gets on top stays on top. I want a good, old English wicket at Edgbaston."

More from Alastair Cook on TMS: "Backing up a win is something we haven't been able to do the last four times, which is incredibly frustrating. You can jump to all kinds of conclusions, but it's 1-1 - I can't quite work out why we didn't back up Cardiff but we have a few days off and we come to Edgbaston and we've got to show some character."

 

Australian Captain Michael Clarke

 "I couldn't have asked for a better performance. The intent from our batsmen through the second innings was great and the execution from the bowlers was spot on."

"We didn't really talk too much about Cardiff. Our focus was playing our best cricket here. We didn't play our best there, but now we can look in the mirror and say we played some good cricket here.

"Shaun Marsh played really well. He showed how much of a team player he is. He took two crucial wickets in the first innings. credit to the selectors for going with their gut. It was hard on Watto, but the selectors have to work out the best 11 for each game."

More from Michael Clarke: "That's the advantage of having Mitchell Johnson. He's so fit and a great athlete. We have asses the wicket and game situation. The rest of the attack allowed Mitch to do that.

"Chris Rogers is still getting checked now. He probably thinks we cost him a hundred today.
"I'd like to be 2-0 up, but will accept where we are now. We have to 100% ready to go for the third Test."

 Shaw Post believes that the England Cricket Team will have to take a long hard look at themselves when reflecting on the manner of the complete and utter humiliation at the hands of the Aussie's left the series tied at 1-1 with three more Test Matches to go.

Before England travel to Edgbaston for the Third Test the new England Manager Trevor Bayliss and Assistant manager Paul Farbrace will have to decide if they want to make any changes.

If Shaw Post was the manager of the England Cricket Team then we would drop Adam Lyth, Gary Ballance and Ian Bell as they all look mentally shot  of confidence and replace them with Nick Compton, Jonny Bairstow and James Taylor as there players who are all in form.