'Methodical' England lays bare 'gulf in class' with Oz in Lord's

A methodical and orthodox England team has laid bare the gulf in class between itself and Australia as its spin attack had led the tourists' batting order to collapse miserably at Lord's, according to the Australian media.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, although back-to-back Ashes series seemed like a good idea for Australia when initially scheduled, it lost some of its gloss after the side's Indian misfortune and now increasingly looks bleak as Australia gets set to lose its sixth Test in a row, except Trent Bridge, by gaping margins.

Stating that a possible defeat will be the tourists' fourth Ashes defeat in succession, the report said that England's luxury was that it could take as much time and few risks as it liked as it spent the first two sessions accumulating 140 at little more than two an over, for the loss only of Tim Bresnan.

Although the report called England's attack as orthodox, methodical and somnolent, it softened its stance by saying that the tactic was only a means to an end for the hosts, who added 162 as the Australian bowlers tired and frayed in the last session, adding that the Lord's Test magnified the gap in class between the teams.

With Australian gains only comprising of two wickets, one from a bouncer and one from a long hop, England's performance was even more boosted by upcoming batsman Joe Root, who implanted himself at the crease for seven-and-a-half hours to make 178 not out.

The report further praised Root, who drew the bowlers' length towards him and periodically hit elegant straight drives reminiscent of his predecessor as opener for Yorkshire and England, Michael Vaughan and effectively dictated terms despite his age.