This is the seventh part in a series recounting the 2005 Ashes, as it occurred a decade ago.

Morning

England’s good fortune from the opening day carries over into Day 2, Hayden out for a golden duck with the seventh delivery of the morning. Ponting responds with multiple boundaries, while Langer is patient to collect one or two runs at a time. The Aussie captain is more willing to play the daring shots, taking Australia to 50 after 10 overs – better than what England’s openers managed at that point the day before. More boundaries sees Ponting bring up his personal 50 after just 51 balls faced; he received criticism for choosing to bowl upon winning the toss, so this is a telling response. Giles eventually gets Ponting to edge to Vaughan, stopping his innings at 61. Langer, who has just gotten to 20 during all this, lets Martyn contribute more boundaries, before Vaughan runs Martyn out. Australia are 118/3 at lunch.

Afternoon

With Clarke joining Langer at the crease, the veteran opener lets his new batting partner take the lead. The boundaries come less often, while Giles, Hoggard, and Simon Jones alternate overs, none of them panicking. Langer brings up his half-century at a strike rate of a little over 50, while several overs later Clarke edges behind to Geraint Jones. Flintoff is brought on for a spell, and in his third over claims Katich for only 4, but not before Australia reach the 200 mark. Langer eventually gets to 70 while being paired with Gilchrist. The visitors have done well, losing only two wickets this session, and are 219/5 at tea.

Evening

Langer continues his patient innings, creeping into the 80s while Gilchrist gets into his 20s. Simon Jones finally gets Langer lbw for 82, ending a four-and-a-half-hour spell at bat. Warne hits a pair of boundaries before Giles bowls him clean. It’s a significant moment in the series; Giles may not be on Warne’s level as a bowler, but getting the wicket of his nemesis is especially satisfying. Gilchrist begins to run out of partners, as Lee edges to Flintoff at second slip. The Australian keeper brings up the team’s 300 in the 74th over, and gets to 48 himself, but Flintoff shows true brilliance; he gets Gillespie & Kasprowicz both lbw in successive deliveries to end the innings.

Australia finish their first innings 308 all out.

Trescothick and Strauss get off to another strong, confident start, reaching 25 in the first six overs. Warne is called to bowl the last over of the day, and finds the leg stump of Strauss, sending him back for 6. As nightwatchman, Hoggard sees out the remaining balls of the day. Warne has given England something to think about overnight, but it’s another day won by the hosts.

After Day 2, England are 25/1 in the second innings. They lead by 124 runs.