Smith, Khawaja frustrate England in Sydney

Australia captain Steve Smith continued to be England's Ashes nemesis on Friday as he passed 6,000 test runs in an unbeaten knock of 44 to help his team to 193 for two at close of play on the second day of the fifth Test. The world's top ranked batsman and Usman Khawaja batted through the final session in a 107-run partnership after openers Cameron Bancroft and David Warner had departed earlier in Australia's reply to England's 346. Khawaja notched a stylish 91 not out on the ground where he made his Test debut in the corresponding fixture at the Sydney Cricket Ground seven years ago but it was the wicket of Smith that England most desperately wanted.

"Mason Crane was pretty good but Moeen Ali struggled once again. The seamers, on both sides, look cooked. It's been a long series. " @MichaelVaughan ?? More Day 2 reaction ? https://t.co/8neIPt8Tz6 #ashes #bbccricket pic.twitter.com/NMjkmjJ8rL

— Test Match Special (@bbctms) January 5, 2018

They were to be disappointed with only a couple of half chances presenting themselves as Smith sent a couple of early edges fizzing through the slips. The 28-year-old was soon looking comfortable and unfussily swatted a single to backward square to pass the 6,000 career runs mark in his 111th test innings. Only the great Donald Bradman reached the milestone in fewer knocks.

England need a breakthrough here, similar to what happened last night... Can they find a way to crush this crucial Aussie partnership? Australia 171/2 Khawaja 80* Smith 33* ?? Live ? https://t.co/8neIPt8Tz6 #ashes #bbccricket pic.twitter.com/0Yf5KSafgS

— Test Match Special (@bbctms) January 5, 2018

Having started the day with a brilliant diving catch in the slips to dismiss Dawid Malan, Smith walked off his home ground in the brilliant afternoon sunshine with 648 runs to his name in the series so far. The tourists, 3-0 down in the series with the urn already relinquished, earlier posted a competitive tally in the face of some fearsome pace bowling on the back of a hard wagging tail and some wasteful Australian catching. Australia came out after lunch to begin their innings in front of another packed house only for Stuart Broad to clean bowl Bancroft for a duck in the second over.

Wow, what a catch from Aussie skipper Steve Smith! https://t.co/vhFwlbdpM8 #Ashes pic.twitter.com/c0hoAucGeD

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) January 4, 2018

Warner scored a measured 56 by his standards in a 85-run stand with Khawaja before was caught behind when James Anderson got the ball to move away from him. Broad's 31, featuring two thumping sixes, had earlier been integral to a bright morning for the tourists after the hammer blow of losing two wickets in the last couple of overs of day one.

Australia are 2/193 in reply to England's 346 at the close of play on Day 2 of the 5th #Ashes Test. Tune into the #OptusSport and @CricketAus Facebook pages NOW for a LIVE recap of Day 2. ? https://t.co/bFlonnGd9p pic.twitter.com/E6ZMZa2Pjv

— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) January 5, 2018

Malan (62) lasted less than half an hour after they had resumed on 233 for five, Mitchell Starc eliciting an outside edge which Smith caught brilliantly to make some amends for three spills in his otherwise impeccable series. His fast bowlers then proceeded to produce a couple of howlers with Pat Cummins dropping Tom Curran on 21 off Nathan Lyon and, in the next over, Josh Hazlewood letting Moeen Ali off the hook with the all-rounder on 22.

? Brotherly love ? Joe Root's brother Billy in full voice with The Barmy Army supporting the boys... Singing his heart out ?#ItsTheAshes #Ashes pic.twitter.com/aLFFXIwJwh

— The Ashes on BT Sport (@btsportcricket) January 5, 2018

England's tail made the most of the reprieves with Curran hitting a confident 39 and Moeen 30 before both fell victim to the pace of Cummins (4-80). Broad braved the short bowling almost until the scheduled lunch break before becoming spinner Lyon's first victim of the match and the innings ended in a mix-up that resulted in Mason Crane being run-out for four in his maiden test innings. The 20-year-old leg spinner later made a reasonably solid start to his test career with the ball, returning figures of 0-58.

Steven Smith is making a habit of re-writing the record books ?https://t.co/43eHBoPfOX #Ashes pic.twitter.com/O7GvqPB9K8

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) January 5, 2018