Ashes verdict: Walsall Cricket Club

The Express & Star's Ashes Verdict is back after Australia enjoyed their best day of the series so far racking up a huge 337-1 at stumps.

It's the ideal response the tourists were after following their first Test drubbing in Cardiff on Saturday.

World number one batsman Smith hit a century along with opening batsman Chris Rogers as Australia piled on the runs at Lords – the home of cricket - after winning the toss.

It seems England, who came into the match on a real high, will have to bat well for the remainder of the match to avoid defeat.

Maxfield said Smith has come a long way from the man who first appeared into the Test Cricket scene when he first made him name as a spinner and arguably the next Shane Warne.

"It's just the start Australia wanted," he said.

"They are the world's number one team and today we saw why. You always knew they were going to come back strong but the flat pitch has helped them.

"Rogers knows the Lords ground well from his time there with Middlesex and you always want to do well when you come back to your home ground and Smith proved why he is the world's best batsman.

"When I watched Smith a few years ago I didn't think he would do any good as a Test batsman. He just looked all over the place with his technique and seemed to be sussed out.

"He was tipped to be the next Shane Warne but maybe he's done the best thing and concentrated on his batting rather than his bowling. Now you can't see him getting out unless he gets himself out which he did at Cardiff. He's great to watch and proved his worth today."

Maxfield said he would find it hard to see a result if the pitch stays a batsman's paradise throughout.

"There's no swing and very little turn, it looks a perfect batting pitch from the look of things so on that track England should not get bowled out twice, unless it deteriorates horrendously. I think it will just be a bore draw.

"What's good for England now is that they are 1-0 up so it means Australia have to force the issue a little bit which possibly means they could declare early which may play to England's hands."

My favourite Ashes moment

Steve Harmison's last gasp wicket of Michael Kasprowicz to give England a thrilling two-run victory at Edgbaston in the series of 2005.

"For me it would have to be Steve Harmison's final wicket at Edgbaston as England won the Second Test to level the series at 1-1," Maxfield said.

"I remember watching on the TV with my Dad thinking that England had blown it. But when that wicket happened there were many cheers in the house.

"That Test got a lot of people talking about cricket, the nation went cricket crazy again.

"I remember expecting England to win the match comfortable on that fourth morning but I like many others were not expecting it to go all the way like it did.