Steve Smith’s stranglehold over England has continued with the Australian star’s 12th Ashes ton helping the tourists to 416 in their first innings at Lord’s.

Australia lost its last five wickets for 77 runs on Thursday’s second morning, opening the way for England to fight its way back into the second Test after the visitors were at one point 3-316 late on day one.

But with clouds overhead and the ball moving around on a green wicket, Australia would still have taken a total of beyond 400 after being sent in by England.

Smith’s 110 drew him level with Steve Waugh for the second-most centuries by an Australian with 32.

Tweet from @ICC

It is against England he has had his most success.

Smith’s 12th Ashes century has him behind only Sir Donald Bradman (19) for the most in history, level in second place alongside English great Jack Hobbs.

Smith also now averages 58.81 in the Ashes, the third highest in Ashes history behind Bradman and Mike Hussey of all Australian or English players with 20 innings or more.

These Lord’s runs could prove among his most crucial, with Australia pushing to go 2-0 up in the series after their thrilling two-wicket win at Edgbaston.

The 34-year-old’s innings also came on his first visit back to Lord’s since being felled by a brutal Jofra Archer bouncer during the 2019 series and was ruled out with concussion.

Smith briefly appeared at risk of running out of partners on Thursday, when Alex Carey was trapped lbw by Stuart Broad and Mitchell Starc edged off shortly after.

But with Pat Cummins at the other end, Smith brought up three figures when he drove James Anderson through the covers, holding his arms aloft to a generous applause.

He produced a fine whip off the pads next ball for four, but was out driving hard at one outside off stump shortly after when caught at gully off Josh Tongue (3-98).

Cummins’ unbeaten 22 then took Australia past 400, before Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood succumbed to Ollie Robinson (3-100) and left the captain stranded.

-AAP