Smith and Khawaja seize momentum on day 2 of 4th Ashes test

Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja guided Australia to a promising 209-3 at lunch on the second day of the fourth Ashes test under patchy skies at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

After resuming at 126-3, Smith and Khawaja shared a 92-run partnership which spanned three short rain delays Thursday and offered very few opportunities for England's attack to build on its late rally before stumps on the opening day.

At the lunch interval, Smith was unbeaten on 51 and Khawaja was 39 not out.

Smith, with three test centuries at his home SCG, appeared comfortable as he compiled his 33rd half-century off 116 balls without taking risks or attempting extravagant shots.

When reaching 30, Smith passed Justin Langer’s career record of 6,996 runs and became Australia’s sixth-highest run scorer in tests. Smith, playing his 81st test, needed 24 tests fewer than Langer, the current Australia team coach, to reach the mark.

Khawaja, playing his first test since 2019, became more adventurous with his stroke play as his innings progressed, which included a reverse sweep off spinner Jack Leach for a boundary.

Although Leach was unlucky not to dismiss Khawaja for 30, with captain Joe Root spilling a reasonably simple chance at slip.

Concerningly for England, Ben Stokes left the field after the fifth ball of his 14th over. The allrounder was clutching at his side as he left the ground for treatment and did not return prior to lunch.

The England team said Stokes was “currently being treated for left side tightness and will be assessed over the course of the next hour.”

On Wednesday, sweeping showers permitted only 21 completed overs in the opening two sessions after Australia skipper Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat first on a green-tinged SCG pitch, but the match sprang to life in the final session of play.

David Warner (30) was dismissed just before tea by the returning Stuart Broad (1-41) for the 13th time in tests. Marcus Harris (38) and Marnus Labuschagne (28) were dismissed as England's pace bowlers rebounded late in the day.

Australia has an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series and has retained the Ashes, but England is still aiming to take something from the tour by winning a test in Australia for the first time in almost a decade.