Live Commentary: The Ashes - Second Test, Day One - as it happened

Good morning everyone and welcome to our coverage of what might be the best day in British sport. England vs. Australia in The Ashes at Lord's. Does it get any better than that? The hosts made the perfect start to the series with a 169-run win in Cardiff, but there's still so much cricket to be played this summer. Australia must produce a response over the next five days.

AUSTRALIA WIN THE TOSS AND BAT FIRST: The first battle of the day is won by Michael Clarke as he calls correctly and decides to bat first. It's no surprise to hear that decision, but there should be something in it for England's bowlers early on. The pitch doesn't look the quickest and the morning session will not be easy for the batsmen.

ENGLAND: Cook, Lyth, Ballance, Bell, Root, Stokes, Buttler, Ali, Broad, Wood, Anderson

AUSTRALIA: Warner, Rogers, Smith, Clarke, Voges, Marsh, Nevill, Johnson, Starc, Hazlewood, Lyon

There is good news for England this morning. Moeen Ali has been struggling with a side problem in recent days, and with his understudy Adil Rashid unavailable due to a finger injury, there was some concern. However, the all-rounder has recovered to keep his place after playing an important role in Cardiff.

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Australia make two changes following the loss in Cardiff. One was enforced due to some personal problems for Brad Haddin, who is hoping to be available later in the series. Peter Nevill is his replacement and he makes his Test debut at Lord's. Shane Watson's lbw troubles were mocked by England fans once again last week and he lose his place to Mitchell Marsh, who hit centuries against Kent and Essex before the start of the series. Will we see Watson in Test cricket again?

Clarke, who insisted at the toss that Mitchell Starc has recovered from his ankle injury, is confident that he will see a response from his side.

"It's overcast, a day one wicket. There will be something in it but it looks a very good pitch. We've had a lot of success over our history of cricket at Lord's," he told Sky Sports.

"Cardiff was a kick up the backside for us; we didn't perform there."

Steve Waugh with Australia 's 443rd Test cricketer Peter Nevill #Ashes pic.twitter.com/RPHud42uZ7 — cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) July 16, 2015

You've heard it a million times, but the first hour will, of course, be vital today. There's not going to be many problems for a batsman on this pitch so England need to get on the front foot with the new ball. Losing the toss is certainly not a disaster for Alastair Cook's side.

"Australia making changes is irrelevant to us. It's all about if we can bowl as well as we did in Cardiff," Cook said at the toss.

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"Moeen is ready to go. He's played a lot of cricket. It's quite common for bowlers not to do a lot between games."

.@MoeenAli gets loose #Ashes pic.twitter.com/kCPqNRe85e — England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 16, 2015

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting is the special guest to ring the bell for the start of play at Lord's this morning. The excitement is building very quickly at the home of cricket. It's a packed house, too. Australia have a great record here, but it's England who have won the last two matches between the two sides here.

There's a great reception for the England players as they walk through the famous Long Room before jogging out onto the field ahead of David Warner and Chris Rogers. We're now just a few moments away from play.

Here we go then. As usual, it's James Anderson who has the new ball in his hand. Rogers on strike. Three slips, a gully and, surprisingly, a leg-slip in place. Play!

It's a very attacking first field from Cook, who has also placed Broad at short mid-on. After dominating in Cardiff, England would love to pile the pressure on with an early wicket. Close! The early breakthrough is almost there as Rogers edges the third ball just over Root at third slip. Rogers then reaches the rope again when he drives firmly through the covers. Interesting start.

Three slips and a gully in place for Warner, who watches Stuart Broad begins his spell with a front-foot no-ball. The first legal delivery is not much better as the seamer drifts one down the leg-side to force Jos Buttler into some early work. Warner gets off the mark with a quick single on the off-side before Rogers nudges three runs to deep mid-wicket. Broad struggles to hit the right line or length in the over. Five from his opener.

Good work from Buttler to collect a wayward delivery down the leg-side from Anderson, who has received a couple of stares from umpire Marias Erasmus for stepping on the pitch. Rogers gets to the non-striker's end with a single off the pads. Warner thinks twice about playing outside off-stump and he is fortunate when a deflection off the bat sends the ball safely to point. He keeps the strike by picking up three down the ground.

Broad goes very full to Warner, who manages to keep the ball out but watches a thick edge send the ball to Lyth at gully. Another uncomfortable moment follows when the seamer nips one back into the pads and Warner takes the opportunity to get off strike. Rogers adds another run to fine-leg as England's opening bowlers continue to look for the right areas. Rogers 13* Warner 5

Anderson decides to come round the wicket at the start of his third over, and despite not being in much control of the shot, Rogers earns four when he manages to direct a shorter ball wide of gully. Rogers, who moved to Middlesex to play here in 2011, pulls his bat away when Anderson gets one to nip away outside off-stump. Better from England's leading wicket taker.

Warner is caught in two minds outside off-stump again as he hits one through to Buttler while attempting to leave. Broad's line is off again, though, as Warner earns a run behind square on the leg-side. Rogers ends the over with a boundary by pushing firmly past the fielder at wide mid-on. Australia scoring at above four an over.

There's some good carry through to Buttler, which suggests that the pitch is slightly quicker than it appears. Warner leaves well outside off-stump early in the over as Anderson continues to take the ball away from round the wicket. It's the first maiden of the morning.

Broad follows Anderson's lead by coming round the wicket and it's a good start to his fourth over as Rogers squares himself up at the crease, which should be a concern for the opener. A return to over the wicket results in Rogers pushing the ball through the covers for a couple. Not much movement around for the bowlers so far. Cook may change things soon.

The first change of the morning arrives as Mark Wood comes into the attack to replace Anderson. A loose delivery invites the cut from Warner, but there's not much bounce and the opener can't connect with a big swing. Wood finds a much better line to send one past the outside edge when Warner looks to find a run to third-man. The aggressive opener moves into double figures with a pull for four when the Durham seamer drops one too short. Just the boundary from the over.

Broad looks perplexed in the middle of the pitch after nipping one back to beat the inside edge. He must have only missed the off-stump by an inch or two. Broad is starting to look in better rhythm now, but he might just have one more over. Maiden. Rogers 23 Warner 10*

Shot of the morning from Warner as he punishes some width by hammering a cut shot to the rope. Wood produces a superb response by bringing the opener forward and beating the edge. Lovely bowling. An lbw appeal follows but the ball always looked like it was going down the leg-side. The timing is on show again when Warner pushes the ball past the fielder at mid-on to collect four more.

Anderson switches ends to replace Broad. Joe Root has the helmet on in that very short third-slip position he was in during the first Test. The carry is a bit better here, though, so it will be interesting to see a chance get to him. A wild ball down the leg-side leaves Buttler helpless as Anderson gifts four byes to the tourists. Wood sprints round from fine-leg in an attempt to stop a boundary from Rogers, but he's not successful. Anderson still hasn't hit the right line since catching the edge in the opening over.

Wood is a touch too short again and Warner stands tall to drill the ball through the covers for four runs. A straighter delivery is then clipped through mid-wicket for three more, before a leg-bye hands the strike back to Warner. Shot! It just gets better as Warner pushes a decent delivery through the covers for another boundary. Excellent timing.

The runs are flowing for Australia this morning. Cook has gone to just two slips as the tourists continue to score at close to five runs an over. Rogers frustrates Anderson once again with four just in front of point. Six off the 14th over of the innings. We're through the first over. It looks a very good toss to have won.

4 - Rogers & Warner are the joint-4th most productive Australian Test opening partnership in terms of 50+ stands (13 in 35 innings). Base.

— OptaJim (@OptaJim) July 16, 2015

It's not gone right early on so he decides it's time for Moeen Ali, but the start is dreadful as Warner launches a full-toss over mid-wicket for four runs. Warner clearly wants to unsettle the spinner as he skips down the pitch again to drag four more runs through mid-wicket, before earning a single by pushing the fourth ball into the off-side. Rogers adds another run to square-leg.

After taking eight runs from Ali's first five balls, did Warner really need to do this? He charges down the pitch in an attempt to launch the spinner out of the ground, but he doesn't get all of the shot and Anderson runs back at mid-off to take the catch. It's another example of Australia attacking too recklessly against the spinner. Important breakthrough for England.

Steve Smith is the new batsman and he immediately gets of the mark at the start of Anderson's over. The seamer sends down a couple of shorter ones but Rogers calmly avoids the danger. He takes a single off the final ball to keep the strike.

Good bowling from Ali as he changes his pace slightly to almost sneak one past the inside edge. Rogers rocks back to a shorter ball to nudge a single into the leg-side, before the right-handed Smith adds another with a similar shot. One more makes it three from the over. A slightly less exciting over from the spinner.

Anderson finds a better line and length to Rogers from round the wicket, before coming back over and delivering a couple of shorter deliveries. Rogers ducks the first one and stands tall to keep the second one down. Maiden.

This is how you attack the spinner. Smith, who is always keen to use his feet against the spinner, skips down the pitch to drive through the covers when Ali is slightly too full. A single follows to fine-leg before Rogers keeps out the last ball. Ali vs. Smith could be a fun battle.

Ben Stokes gets his first bowl with 30 minutes remaining in the session. The all-rounder often leaks runs, but he can produce something out of nowhere and he has fond memories of Lord's after his stunning performance against New Zealand. Smith shuffles across the crease to earn a single behind square on the leg-side. A slightly wider ball allows Rogers to come forward to push a single to deep point, but he doesn't look very happy with himself for playing that shot. Decent start from Stokes. Rogers 39* Smith 8

Poor from Ali. He starts with the wrong line to Rogers, who gets a single on the leg-side, before allowing Smith to drill a full-toss through his legs and to the rope down the ground. Only some excellent fielding from Anderson at mid-on prevents Smith from reaching the rope when Ali goes too full again. Australia remain in a very healthy position.

With Ali being attacked at the other end, Australia probably feel that they don't need to take many risks against Stokes, who isn't offering much freedom anyway. Just a single for Smith in the over.

Cook decides to go back to Wood, who conceded 24 runs in his opening three overs. Seamers always tend to bowl slightly wider to Smith, but Wood settles on a decent line to prevent the batsman from opening up the leg-side. There's some movement for him outside off-stump, too. Good bowling. Maiden over.

Good fielding from Wood to prevent Rogers from reaching the rope with a push down the ground. Three runs takes Australia to 100 as they continue to score at a decent rate. There's gasps from the slips and the stands when Smith swings wildly at a wide one from Stokes. That would have been an awful way to get out. Stokes has started very well. Just six from his first three overs.

Rogers misreads a bouncer from Wood and is struck on the back while ducking, but Buttler is unable to prevent the ball from sneaking away for a couple of extras. England are doing a decent job of slowing down the run-rate before the interval. 25 overs bowled so far today.

Good bowling from Stokes as he gets Smith into an awkward position and strikes the back pad after just missing the outside edge. The Durham all-rounder spends most of the over outside off-stump before targeting the stumps, but Smith tucks the ball into the leg-side to keep the strike. One over left in the session.

LUNCH: There's some movement for Wood again, but he's slightly too wide as Smith miscues a loose drive before a straighter ball allows the batsman to earn a single to deep square-leg. These two are looking very comfortable. Rogers 43* Smith 16*

That's it for the first session at Lord's. It was a great toss to win for Australia and they will be thinking about batting for a very long time on this pitch. The only batsman to lose his wicket was David Warner, who gifted Moeen Ali a breakthrough.

We'll join the players by taking a break during the lunch interval, but make sure you return in around 35 minutes as England look to put the pressure back on the tourists.

Welcome back everyone. After the disaster that was the Cardiff Test for Australia, it's been a very good start to the day for the tourists. The toss looks even more important now and with a good platform set Australia will be thinking of a very big score. England must be patient with their attacking approach. It could be a long couple of days.

Australia scored at over four runs an over in the first session, but that's more a reflection of modern Test cricket, rather than England's bowling. There's been a few freebies but England look fully aware that this is going to be hard work. They'll want two or three wickets in this session to peg back the tourists.

© Getty Images

England are joined on the Lord's turf by Smith and Rogers. There's a lot more runs out there for the tourists today. Broad will be the first bowler to target this partnership in the second session.

Just two slips in place, but Cook has a silly mid-off to give Smith something else to consider in the first over after lunch. Broad begins with a wide line to the right-hander and he nips one past the edge when Australia's number three flirts with the ball. There's some movement back into the pads later in the over, which allows the Australian duo to sneak a leg-bye. Chance! Concern for Rogers when he calls for a risky single. He's a long way short of his ground, but Ali's throw is, well, dreadful. Two off the over.

Risk-free runs on this occasion for Rogers as he earns three wide of the fielder at mid-on. Anderson then gets it completely wrong with a big wide. It's been like that for much of the day. Anderson just hasn't quite found the right line or length as Smith sees out the rest of the over.

Good from Broad for much of the over as he settles on what is close to a fifth or sixth stump line. 50! Rogers waits for the bad ball and cuts for four runs to reach his half-century from 95 balls. Excellent knock so far. He loves this ground.

Anderson is furious with himself when he's too short and too wide to Smith, who stands tall to hammer four runs past the fielder at point. Another fine shot follows, this time on the front foot, but he can only find Ballance at cover. Confident start to the session for Australia.

Rogers hasn't given England a sniff since edging the ball just beyond third slip in the first over of the day. He's slowed his scoring rate but punished almost every poor delivery sent down. It's been a fine innings. Broad gets through an over without a blemish in the scorebook. Maiden.

Anderson, who is already into his 11th over, hangs a few outside off-stump in an attempt to bring the false shot from Smith, but the batsman is refusing to bite at the moment. This is better from England, though. Cook has his fielders in the right place for a patient, but not defensive, approach. It's another maiden.

There's a fielder in the deep to restrict Rogers to a single when he pulls through square-leg at the start of the over. Broad finds a hint of swing to bring the ball back at Smith, who earns a couple behind square on the leg-side. He probably gets slightly greedy with another straight one which Smith nudges away for a single. Rogers then breathes a sigh of relief when an inside edge sends the ball against his foot, rather than the stumps.

Interesting move from Anderson as he comes round the wicket to the right-handed Smith, who reacts by taking a couple of steps across but he almost gets into trouble when the ball nips past his outside edge. A shorter delivery creates problems for Anderson, who is left frustrated again when Smith beats backward point to earn four runs. Rogers 52* (103) Smith 27 (66)

Cook makes the first change of the session as Ali, who conceded 24 from his first four overs but took the wicket of Warner, returns to the attack. He's a touch too straight to Rogers and the opener gets off strike with a leg-bye. It's a similar problem to Smith, who sits back to pick up a run on the leg-side. Ali improves by going slightly fuller as the over progresses, but there's not much in the pitch for the spinner.

One tactic from round the wicket is to target Smith's leg-stump, and Anderson does so with a yorker but Australia's number three does well to keep the ball out. Anderson then delights the crowd by juggling the ball with his feet before seeing Smith clip a single in the air behind square on the leg-side. Better from Anderson.

Ali is too short again, but Broad does him a favour by stopping the pull from Smith at square-leg. The length improves to force Smith to come forward, which really is where you need him to be from a bowler's point of view. England are doing a decent job of slowing the scoring rate. Maiden.

It's time for Cook to use his sixth bowler as Root, who took two wickets in the second innings in the first Test, comes into the attack for the first time. Rogers doesn't get all of a drive, but he still manages to beat Broad at backward point to earn four runs off the second ball. Compared to Ali, Root is too full in his opening over as Rogers settles for the boundary.

Smith gives Rogers the strike early in the over and the opener continues his fine innings with the latest of cuts through third-man for four runs. Buttler does well to take a leg-side delivery which really should have been punished. Australia look comfortable. England really need a wicket. Rogers 60 Smith 30*

Cook puts himself at leg-slip and he's in danger when Root slides the ball down leg-side to allow Smith to pick up a couple of runs. Smith keeps a couple of good ones out before advancing down the pitch to earn a single to mid-on. Just three off the over.

Aussie fans travelling with the Cricket Australia Travel Office take in all the action on day one at Lord's #Ashes pic.twitter.com/YwE2UxLKWk — cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) July 16, 2015

Too wide from the returning Stokes, whose punishment is to watch Smith slice a drive past point for four. Cook has a man sweeping on the leg-side and the placement is perfect as Smith settles for a single when he pulls powerfully. Here's the most obvious statement of the day: the pitch is very, very flat.

Smith, proactive against the spinners as always, comes forward to nudge a single into the leg-side, before Rogers cuts late to reach the rope once again. Excellent batting from the experienced opener. It all looks too easy for the Australians, but England aren't doing much wrong, in truth. Patience is key today.

We're halfway through the session at Lord's as Stokes continues his spell. Australia will be wary of the fact that plenty of batsmen made starts in the first Test without going on to make a big score. On this evidence, you would fancy at least one of these two to reach three figures today. Just one off the first over after the drinks break.

Wood is back into the attack after spending a bit of time off the field earlier in the session. He's probably slightly too wide in the over, but England are obviously wary of bowling straight to Smith, who earns a single to point. There's a short cover and silly mid-off in place for the left-handed Rogers, who has no intention of playing at couple of very wide deliveries.

You can't blame Cook for having only two slips in place, but after going off at the start of the over he'll be disappointed to see Smith edge the ball just past a diving Bell at second slip. Stokes brings one back in later in the over and Smith calmly earns a couple more with a clip off the pads. Frustration for England.

Patience is the order of the day for England, but we've seen a patient approach from Rogers and Smith, too. It would be easy to become complacent on such a flat pitch but there's not been too many false shots. Mind you, England almost get a stroke of luck when an Rogers watches the ball just miss the stumps off the inside edge. Smith hurries Lyth on the leg-side and a fumble ensures he can get through for an easy single. A wider delivery invites the drive from Rogers, who slices the ball away for four more. Easy runs.

It's all looked rather easy for Smith, which probably shouldn't be a surprise after watching him become one of the best players around over the last couple of years. He adds another single to his tally to edge closer to a half-century. Desperation springs to mind as Stokes launches the most optimistic of lbw appeals against Rogers. Rogers 69 Smith 49*

50! Smith reaches his half-century from 111 balls as he picks up another easy single. After a frustrating opening to the series the vice-captain has looked very good today. Rogers survives some short stuff from Wood as the tourists settle for one off the over.

Drop! England have probably been slightly too short to Smith, but Stokes gets the ball in the right area this time to catch the edge. It only just carries to Bell, who can't hang on. As chances go, it was a very tough low catch, but England really needed that to stick. Just one run added to the total. Stokes is not a happy man.

Lovely shot from Smith as he pushes the ball straight back past the bowler to collect three runs. Wood has targeted Rogers with short bowling for a couple of overs, but the opener refuses to play ball as he ducks out of the way. Good defence on show.

Excellent running from Smith as he rushes Ali and gets home to collect a couple of runs. He opens the face of the bat once again to collect a single to point. It's quickly turning into a very tough day for England as Rogers brings up the 100 partnership by cutting a very wide delivery for four. That could be it for Stokes.

Big appeal for lbw from Wood when Smith shuffles across and misses, but it's a touch too high with the thigh-pad being struck. Easy decision for Marais Erasmus. Wood attempts to surprise Smith with a short ball which he manages to pull away for one. Shot! Simple but brilliant from Smith as he punches off the back foot to collect four more runs. Excellent timing. Six off the over.

Ali is back into the attack with around 10 minutes left in the session. Rogers is fortunate to get bat on a delivery which skids through quickly. England's spinner loses his line to invite the sweep, and despite not connecting with the middle, Rogers collects three off the glove. Buttler thinks it was a chance, but it would have taken something special for him to stop it, let alone catch the ball.

Wood comes round the wicket to Rogers, who looks solid as the Durham seamer targets the stumps. Broad is in the game at mid-wicket to prevent a couple of singles. A sharp bouncer arrives but it's too short to worry the opener. Maiden.

Kumar Dharmasena is quick to shake his head when Ali hits the pad with one that was drifting down the leg-side. Smith is in a better position to play a similar shot moments later as he picks up two behind square on the leg-side, before keeping out the rest of the over. We'll get one more over in.

TEA: It's time for something a bit different. Adam Lyth, who has 15 first-class wickets to his name, is into the attack to deliver his own brand of off-spin. For those of you with strange looks on your face, the first couple of deliveries are very good just outside off-stump as Lyth gets the ball to dip late. Rogers doesn't care about blocking against the part-time bowler as he eyes a century. Maiden for Lyth, but Australia are cruising at the moment.

Adam Lyth, who has never bowled in Test cricket, just delivered a maiden before tea on the first day at Lord's. Yeah, it's really, really flat. In fairness to Australia they are taking advantage of the conditions. David Warner will still be cursing himself for that poor shot this morning. Rogers (81*) and Smith (62*) are both targeting big hundreds.

It's there for Australia to take a firm grip on this Test match. I'm not sure if this pitch will change too much over the five days, but winning the toss certainly looks important now. Ideally, the tourists will be thinking about batting once from this position. There's a long way to go, though.

We're just a few minutes away from the resumption of play. On a day when British sport has taken centre stage, it's the tourists who are on top. Pitches like this one are a dream for a Test batsman.

The players are back out. Cook needs to see a fightback in the final session of the day. After eight half-centuries in his last nine Test innings, can Rogers finally reach three figures? 33 overs still to be bowled today. Ali to bowl.

There's two catchers in place for Smith, who picked out Cook at silly mid-on in the first Test but has batted far more sensibly today. It's a pretty easy over to begin the session. Four runs added. It looks like Broad will take the ball at the other end.

Broad comes round the wicket to Rogers but he's perhaps a bit too short to the let-hander at the beginning of a new spell. He finds a much better length to Smith, who settles for a single when Ballance gets a hand on his cover drive. Beauty from Broad as he takes one away from the outside edge. He even lodges an appeal, but Marais Erasmus laughs off the claim. Good bowling.

Clever batting from Smith as he opens the face of the bat to take Australia to 200 with three runs through third-man. A late cut from Rogers is even better as he uses some width from Ali to collect four. The opener is almost in trouble when the ball spins back after a lunge forward, but he's safe after a nervy moment.

Superb fielding from Lyth as he sprints across from mid-off and gets a hand on the ball to ensure Smith only earns one with a firm drive. Beauty! Broad delivers another excellent delivery to Rogers to beat the outside edge. Suddenly, the ball is doing a bit for the England seamer. Cook will be hopeful this spell brings a breakthrough. Rogers 87 Smith 70*

Poor from England. Broad's throw from the deep is off target and a single turns into three runs for Smith. Cook deserves a bit of credit. He's regularly changing the field for Ali and his other bowlers, despite being offered very little encouragement and England really are trying to be positive when they can.

It's another change of plan from Cook, who brings fielders into catching positions at cover and point. Broad doesn't get the memo with a delivery which is slightly too short. Stokes chases the ball down at third-man, but Smith and Rogers are quick enough to collect four anyway. Broad finds a better length but Smith continues to look very comfortable.

Rogers is happy to get off strike at the start of the over, and he's treated to some excellent viewing at the other end as Smith charges forward to hammer four runs straight down the ground. It's turning into a race to 100. Rogers 88 Smith 82*

Good direction with the short ball from Broad, who forces Rogers to duck despite not finding much bounce off this pitch. It may take something a bit different to break this partnership. Smith's timing is perfect later in the over as he shuffles across the crease to clip the ball through mid-wicket for four. Six off the over.

Rogers goes back to the late cut to move into the nineties with another shot to the third-man boundary. Ali, with desperation written all over his face, asks for lbw but the ball is always going down the leg-side and Kumar Dharmasena shakes his head. Rogers moves to within three of a century as he rocks back to cut for four more when Ali drops one short.

With both players closing in on a century, Cook looks to bring a mistake by throwing the ball to Root once again. Six! No errors on show from Smith as he charges down the pitch to launch the first ball down the ground for six runs. Root then drifts one down the leg-side to allow Smith to pick up a couple more, before another two arrive to deep square-leg. Smith hurries a single off the final ball to keep the strike. He might get to three figures first. Rogers 97 Smith 98*

CENTURY! It's a huge celebration from Smith, who goes to his 10th Test century by pulling through mid-wicket for four runs. He's one of the best players in the world and a hundred seemed almost inevitable after making a start on this pitch. Smith will already be eyeing a much bigger score. Excellent knock. Anderson concedes six on his return to the attack. Rogers 98* (202) Smith 103 (165)

What a superstar! #Ashes pic.twitter.com/llbmYHvjDP

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) July 16, 2015

Ali has changed ends to replace Root. Rogers can't resist a smile when he picks the fielder out at short mid-wicket after attacking a full ball from the spinner. A single off the ball allows him to keep the strike as his hunt for a century goes on.

CENTURY! He's done it! On the ground he's made his second home Rogers reaches his fifth test century with a push down the ground for four runs. After so many half-centuries recently it will surely come as a relief to the veteran opener, who will leave the Test arena at the end of this series. Even when the pitch is this flat, you've got to score the runs. Rogers 103 Smith 103*

What can England do? The pitch is giving them no support and both men in the middle have recorded centuries. Cook has tried different fields and made plenty of changes, but nothing is happening for the hosts. Can Wood or Stokes produce a spell of mainly bouncers? It could take something out of the ordinary. Ali gets through a maiden over.

Stokes is back into the attack but he's greeted by the sight of Rogers cutting the ball past point for another boundary. It's a simple game for Rogers, who boasts a solid defence but always seems to punish the wider delivery when facing the seamer. Two more runs are added behind square, before a clip through mid-wicket beats the fielder and earns him four more. Not a great return for Stokes.

Just the slightest hint of turn for Ali sees him catch Smith's glove, but Buttler has no chance and England's spinner must watch the ball race away to the fine-leg boundary. Wood cleans up on the cover boundary when Smith attacks with that trademark flamboyant drive. The same fielder is forced into more work when Rogers picks up three through square-leg. Runs, runs and more runs. That's the story of the day.

The runs continue to flow as Rogers flicks Stokes into the leg-side for two, before opening the face of the bat and bringing up the 200 partnership with another boundary. England need to slow the scoring rate. These two are finding the gaps far too easily. Stokes responds by catching the outside edge, but the contact is enough to send the ball through third-man for four more. The frustration grows.

Ali settles on a better line, but after being tucked away far too easily today, he's probably a touch too full now. Just a single added to the total.

168.9 - Steven Smith averages 168.9 in his last nine first innings of match Test innings (eight tons, one half-century). Inexorable. — OptaJim (@OptaJim) July 16, 2015

It's becoming a very expensive spell from Stokes, who watches the ball race away to the boundary again when Rogers earns four to leg-slip. The Durham all-rounder responds well and gets Smith into an awkward position outside off-stump, but Australia's number three is seeing it like a football at this stage of his knock.

Rogers is usually more conservative against the spinner, but he's playing pretty positively when Ali goes full, despite finding fielders with a couple of firm shots into the off-side. The flow of runs is stopped with a maiden. England will have the second new ball available in three overs.

The returning Wood is slightly too short, which allows Smith to punch the ball to the boundary rider on the off-side, before Rogers gives the strike back with a single on the leg-side. It feels like a net session at Lord's. The Australians are feasting on runs here today. Rogers 132 Smith 111*

Good work from Buttler down the leg-side when Smith misses with the attempted sweep. Ali has found a better length in the last couple of overs, particularly to Rogers, but a fuller ball allows the opener to collect three to deep mid-wicket. Four scored in the over.

I like this from Wood, who runs in from a very, very short run in an attempt to surprise Smith, but a smile is the only response from Australia's number three. One off the over. The second new ball is now available but it looks like Ali will continue. 10 overs remain in the day.

The misery continues for England, while the supporters in gold and green applaud again as Australia move to 300. Ali is just struggling to build any kind of pressure as he completes his 21st over of the innings. England's spinner has conceded 81 runs today. It's the kind of day which makes bowlers rethink their career choice.

Interesting move from Cook. He decides to take the new ball, but it's Wood who stays in the attack to have the first go. There's a hint of movement throughout the over. Nothing out of the ordinary for a new ball, though. Smith finishes the over with a superb drive through the covers to make it six off the over.

An inevitable change arrives as Anderson comes into the attack with the new ball. There's certainly some swing for him from round the wicket, but Rogers is ready to pounce on anything off target as he drives through the covers for four. Australia would love to get to stumps only one down.

No sign of Broad coming on alongside Anderson yet, but he may have to wait a bit longer if Wood continues to find the swing which takes the ball past Smith's outside edge. Shot! Smith continues to entertain as he rocks back to play a superb hook in front of square. Decent attempt at a surprise ball from Woods, but shots don't come much better than that. Rogers 143* Smith 123

Rogers gives Smith the strike early in the over, and the latter is no mood to pass on gifts as he reaches a wide one from Anderson to cut the ball to the rope. Five more added to the total as Anderson collects his cap and walks away in frustration once again. Still five overs to be bowled.

Great work from Buttler to save a few extras when Broad begins his spell with a wayward delivery down the leg-side. He's slightly too straight again to Rogers, who closes in on another milestone by nudging a couple off his hip before picking up a single. Much better to the right-handed Smith from Broad as he finishes the over by nipping one past the outside edge. Rogers 147* Smith 127

150! More applause for Rogers as a thick edge beats third slip and gives him a boundary which takes him to 150 at Lord's. It's a very special day for the opener on a ground where he has enjoyed so much success with Middlesex. Anderson attempts to surprise the veteran with a couple of bouncers, but the hosts continue to work without reward.

The second new ball is just a few overs old, but England are already being forced to try something different as Broad continues his spell with one slip and a leg-slip in place for Rogers. The change of approach doesn't alter the common theme as Rogers leans forward to push the ball through extra cover for four runs. England must endure just 12 more deliveries.

Ali is back into the attack for his 22nd and final over of the day. He brings Smith forward on a couple of occasions, but Smith shows the full face of the bat in defence before clipping the ball into the leg-side to earn a run. There's a bit of turn outside off-stump to the left-handed Rogers, which should be keeping Nathan Lyon happy in the dressing room. He'll have a big role to play later in the match.

CLOSE OF PLAY: Smith has no intention of doing anything silly after such a brilliant day on a personal and team level. Broad concedes a leg-bye when he gets too straight to Australia's number three. Close! The breakthrough almost arrives in the final over when Broad catches the edge but the ball drops well short of Bell at slip. It's just not England's day. Australia have capitalised on winning the toss and being treated to one of the flattest pitches you will see. Not great entertainment for the fans at Lord's, but good for the tourists. Rogers 158* Smith 129*

After just 90 overs of play Australia are in control of this second Test. There's a long way to go, but the tourists will be hopeful of using this advantage to set up an opportunity for victory. Our live coverage ends here. Make sure you return at 10.30am tomorrow for day two of the second Test. Goodbye everyone.

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