Steve Smith was booed when he walked in and politely clapped when he walked off at stumps, led Australia's charge with an unbeaten 85.

Forced to bat, Australia punished fading England bowling in ideal conditions at Lord’s to post 339-5 by stumps on the first day on Wednesday of the second Ashes test.

Smith anchored century stands with Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head after opening batters David Warner and Usman Khawaja set them up by surviving a tough morning and disruption from Just Stop Oil protesters.

Josh Tongue, in his Ashes debut, became the first England bowler to bowl out Australia’s opening batsmen since 1968, and the first at Lord’s since 1884. Another lingering concern for England was No. 3 batter Ollie Pope, who injured his right shoulder making a stop after lunch and didn’t return to the field. England said he was receiving ice treatment.

When Ben Stokes won the toss and chose to send in Australia, he would have expected to have a minimum of three wickets by lunch and be batting by the end of the day in England’s bid to level the series.

Conditions for the bowlers were that good. The strip was grassy, clouds covered Lord’s all day, and the covers were removed only just before play began after a light drizzle left the air humid and perfect for England’s all-pace attack to swing the ball.

England was without a specialist spinner or spin-bowling all-rounder for only the second time in 20 years.

The two highest test wicket-takers at Lord’s, James Anderson and Stuart Broad, got plenty of movement on a pitch that was deceptively slow, but couldn’t get a wicket, and wouldn’t all day.

Anderson should have had Khawaja out on 1 to a catch at first slip but Joe Root grassed the laces-high chance.