Lord’s centuries for Smith and Rogers in second Test

Centuries to Steve Smith and Chris Rogers were the highlights of the first day of the second Test at Lord’s for Australia.

Both played cautious innings before bringing their centuries up in the final session of the day.

Smith was first to his hundred, bringing it up with a mistimed pull that dribbled to the midwicket boundary.

The prolific number three elicited a scream towards the heavens before he was congratulated by Rogers, who was still on 97 at the time.

Rogers, who slowed his scoring rate drastically while in the 80s, was tentative by comparison as he approached the hundred mark.

Earlier, while still on nought, he survived an edge that just flew over the slips cordon during the first over.

However he managed to bring up his own century two overs after Smith with a compact punch off James Anderson past mid-on for four. It is Rogers' fifth century in Tests and the tenth for Smith.

The innings will be especially sweet for Rogers who is almost certainly playing in his last Ashes series.

He also captained Middlesex, whose home ground is Lord’s and he will now have the pleasure of seeing his name up on the famed honours board.