Friday 17 July 2015 06:37, UK
Sky Sports pundit Sir Ian Botham believes England did not do much wrong despite Australia racking up 337-1 at stumps on day one of the second Investec Ashes Test at Lord's.
Chris Rogers and Steve Smith both hit centuries as the Aussies lost just one wicket to respond in fine style to defeat in the first Test at Cardiff.
And despite England's toils in the field, Botham thinks Australia's batsmen deserve full credit for the way they played on a flat wicket at the Home of Cricket.
Sometimes you don't look at what you've done wrong. You look at what the other side have done right, and Australia were exceptional today.
He said: "I don't think England did much wrong. Sometimes you don't look at what you've done wrong. You look at what the other side have done right, and Australia were exceptional today.
"It's how I expected them to play, particularly after the second innings in Cardiff.
"Credit to Australia. England didn't do a great deal wrong. They dropped Smith, which should have been caught but apart from that, full credit to the Australian boys."
After a dominant display from Rogers and Smith, Australia's focus will switch to how they can go on and win the game to level the series.
All eyes will be on Michael Clarke on day two and how many runs he wants in the first innings before making England bat - and Botham thinks 500 is a minimum for Australia.
"Australia will have a total in the back of their mind," he added.
"You'd think 500 is the minimum but if they have another day like today, they could be declaring at tea tomorrow with 600 runs.
"That would put real scoreboard pressure on England, who would need 400 to avoid the follow-on."
Meanwhile, it was a day to remember for opener Rogers, who spent four years playing at Lord's with Middlesex, as he hit a career-best 158 not out to help put Australia in pole position.
The 37-year-old will call time on his Test carer at the end of this Ashes series but despite his form, Sky Sports pundit Shane Warne believes Rogers' decision to retire must be respected.
"I don't think it comes down to technique or ability," Warne told Sky Sports.
"It's more about the effort that goes into playing when you've done it for a long time.
"Doing it again the next day takes its toll and a player knows when it's time. They've got to trust that decision."
Watch The Ashes live on Sky Sports on Sky Sports Ashes HD. You can also watch the second Test at Lord's with a NOW TV Sports Day Pass. Plus, our Ashes Events Centre - the best of Sky Cricket's analysis at your fingertips - is available on our iPad app.
