England vs. Australia, 5th Test, Day 2: London Life Suits Michael Clarke's Side
Day 2 of the fifth Ashes Test was meant to be perfect for batting. The sun stayed out at the Oval, and with any moisture gone in the surface, the pitch now looked full of runs.
But, despite the conditions being in favour of the batsmen, 15 wickets fell during Friday's action.
Australia reached 481 before they were bowled out, Steve Smith leading the way with 143. England's reply simply never got going—they stumbled to 107 for eight by the close of play, leaving them 374 behind.
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The tourists are on course for a second victory in the series at a London venue this summer—they also triumphed at Lord's in the second Test.
Here, Bleacher Report takes a look at some of the major talking points from the action.
Plenty to play for
While we already knew the Ashes would be back in England’s possession, that doesn’t mean a dead rubber doesn't carry any importance.
For some, the fifth Test finds them drinking in the last chance saloon. Adam Voges was certainly propped on a stool at the bar, though he has suddenly found form when his place was coming into question.
The experienced right-hander followed up his unbeaten half-century in the second innings of the fourth Test with a knock of 76 at the Oval.
Voges may be 35, but he only made his Test debut earlier this year on Australia's tour to the West Indies. He hit a century in his first innings, though he has found the going tougher in England, despite his experience playing county cricket.
Australia’s next Test action comes in Bangladesh in October, by which time Michael Clarke and Chris Rogers will be retired.
Whether Voges is put out to pasture to usher in a new wave of batsmen remains to be seen. His international career is unlikely to be a long one, but his runs at the tail end of the trip may just see it extended for a little while longer yet.
Opening up
While Voges prospered with the bat, England’s Adam Lyth was unable to seize his chance to impress the national selectors.
The Yorkshire opener made 19 before he was caught trying to pull Peter Siddle’s second delivery of the series. His series tally now stands at 105 runs, with an average of 13.12.
It should be remembered that Lyth did hit a century in the second Test against New Zealand at the start of the summer.
However, the memories of his 107 at his home ground of Headingley are fading with every loose shot he plays. He will get one more chance to impress, though the Daily Mail's Lawrence Booth wondered if it might be too late:
England have struggled to find an opening partner for captain Alastair Cook since the retirement of Andrew Strauss.
Nick Compton, Michael Carberry and Sam Robson have all come and gone, while Joe Root and Jonathan Trott were tried in the role.
The next cab off the rank could be Alex Hales, who happened to make 189 for his county, Nottinghamshire, on Friday. Talk about perfect timing.
Team management could also consider promoting all-rounder Moeen Ali up to the top of the order for the series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, according to Paul Newman in the Mail.
Overstepping the mark
No balls were a major talking point on Day 2.
Steven Finn thought he had Smith caught behind for 92, only for the wicket to be ruled out because he had overstepped the front line (and by some distance, too).
Finn eventually got his man, though by then Smith had 143 to his name.
Still, he wasn’t the only bowler to be guilty of taking a wicket with an illegal delivery.
Mitchell Marsh did exactly the same, giving Mark Wood a reprieve shortly before close. It did not spoil Australia's day of dominance, but it was an error that denied them the chance to embarrass England by bowling them out before the close.
Host broadcasters Sky Sports also showed a video montage during the evening session of Mitchell Johnson bowling a series of no balls that went unpunished by the umpires.
The footage led to several questions on Twitter about whether the rules should be changed, with the no-ball calls handed over to the third umpire instead:
The missing men
Marsh and Siddle showed what Australia had been missing in the last two Tests in the series.
The pair combined for figures of five for 36. Marsh could have had a four-wicket haul had he not had Wood caught off a no ball.
His batting has been a non-factor in his three Test appearances against England this year, despite him scoring plenty of runs in the matches against Kent and Essex at the start of the tour.
The all-rounder's fast-medium bowling, however, has been a valuable option for his captain, Michael Clarke. He now has six wickets in the series at an average of 13.50.
Siddle, meanwhile, has had to wait until the final match to get a chance in the team.
His first wicket was down to an error from Lyth, but his second was a superb delivery to Ian Bell that trimmed the top of the right-hander's bails as he was squared up by late movement.
Siddle's efforts should silence some of the doubters. Per Daniel Brettig of ESPN Cricinfo, former Australia leg-spinner Shane Warne was among those who felt he should not have been in the team at the Oval.
But, instead of picking the raw pace of Pat Cummins, Australia's selectors seem to have made the right call in bringing in Siddle, a steady seamer who might wonder why it has taken so long for him to get an opportunity.
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