The Albany Gazette - Crawley, Root guide England recovery after Starc's double strike

After England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and chose to bat, Crawley was not out 61 with Root alongside him on 32, after Starc had reduced England to 5-2 in the third over.

Crawley, who was under pressure after a pair of ducks in Perth grew in confidence as the wicket flattened out and the shine came off the pink ball.

He used his height to get forward to the Australian pace bowlers, bringing up his 50 off 68 balls, including six fours.

Root was dropped early off a difficult chance to a diving Steve Smith in the slips, but thereafter looked equally untroubled as he bids for his first Test century in Australia.

Both teams wore black armbands in memory of former England batsman Robin Smith, who died unexpectedly on December 1.

A minute's silence was also held for Smith, who had been living in Perth and who had visited the England team ahead of the first Test there two weeks ago.

Australia went into Test without regular skipper Pat Cummins, who had been rumoured to be making an early return from a back injury but sprung a major surprise by leaving out off-spinner Nathan Lyon for seamer Michael Neser.

It was the first time in almost 14 years that Australia played a Test at home without a frontline spinner.

Early on, it seemed England's batsmen had learned nothing from their first Test dismissals in Perth as Starc, swinging the new pink ball, struck twice in his first two overs.

Ben Duckett was first to go on the last ball of Starc's first over, nicking a full ball to Marnus Labuschagne at first slip for a golden duck.

England were rocked in Starc's next over, Ollie Pope chopping on a wide delivery to leave England rocking at 5-2.

But Crawley and Root survived a torrid examination from the Australian attack and began to take advantage as the wicket flattened.

(J.Torres--TAG)