Friday, 16 August 2019:

PAT CUMMINS

England opener Rory Burns has warned Australia to be ready for some chin music of their own after his side were subjected to a barrage of short-pitched bowling.

After winning the toss and putting England in to bat, Australia closed the day on 1-30 having dismissed the hosts for 258 on day two of the rain-affected second Test at Lord's.

Burns, who scored 53, was hit on the chest several times by Pat Cummins, who later struck Chris Woakes on the head after Josh Hazlewood delivered a ball that flew off Joe Denly's helmet just before lunch.

Burns said he enjoyed the battle with the bowlers but warned that debutant Jofra Archer, who delivered the fastest ball of the match when he hurled down a 144.8 kph delivery to Cameron Bancroft late in the day, will be happy to ruffle the Aussie batsmen on Friday.

"It's always nice to get in the scrap a little bit," Burns said.

"He (Cummins) obviously got two dead in the same spot, which was nice. But, yeah, just getting in amongst it and trying to tough it out.

"I think Nathan Lyon ran past me this morning and mentioned it within about three balls so I was well versed and prepared for what I was getting. It's just a good battle, isn't it?

"It's quite an obvious tactic. The boys are preparing for it and luckily we can dish out some of our own in this game as well.

"We've got some boys in our armoury who do the same thing so it should be pretty interesting."

"He (Archer) copped a fair few as well so he's probably looking forward to getting his own back."

England recovered from a perilous situation, where they found themselves reduced to 6-138, to record a competitive if under-par looking total.

But Burns believes the match is evenly poised with rain and overcast conditions forecast for day three on Friday and Stuart Broad's peach of a delivery dismissing David Warner for three late in the day.

"I think it's tight," he said.

"It's a competitive total. We'd obviously have liked more runs if we could have eked them out but I think the seamers kept everyone interested all day. It's poised quite nicely.

"We're in amongst with a competitive total. We could've eked out a few more and extend there at the end but I think it's game on and we're right in amongst it."

AAP