Australia reached a commanding 193 for 2 at stumps on day 2 of the 5th and final Ashes Test against England at Sydney today (Jan. 05).

 

The visiting batsmen failed to capitalize on a series of starts, eight of them passed 20 in their innings of 346 yet none went on to post a hundred.

 

However, for Australia Usman Khawaja has struck form and will resume unbeaten on 91, while Steve Smith – who seemingly has forgotten how to appear out of touch – has cruised almost imperceptibly to 44.

 

The pair has already added 107 runs for the 3rd wicket.

 

Earlier, David Warner made 56.

 

England's first innings should rightly have been capped before it reached 346, but the fielding missteps that had cost Australia three wickets on the opening day – all of them left-hander David Malan – became even more pronounced come the second morning.

 

Not that Malan benefited, his innings ended by a piece of fielding genius from Smith who atoned for the series of catches he's missed in the slips cordon over recent Tests by plucking an outrageous snare seven overs into the day.

 

England resumed the day on 233 for 5.

 

Dawid Malan made 62.

 

Patt Cummings was the pick of the Aussie bowlers with 4 for 80.