The chances of a result in the second Ashes Test remain high despite a rained-out first day, with Australia dismissing England for 258 on day two at Lord's.

The Australians then sustained a fiery spell from England's quicks to make it to stumps on 1-30, 228 runs in arrears.

Though it isn't the standard decision in modern cricket, it didn't come as a complete surprise when Australian captain Tim Paine won the toss and elected to bowl first — Joe Root admitted he would have done the same.

A rained-out day one meant there were only four days of cricket left to decide the match, and the tourists were gambling on a strong performance with the ball and back-up from the batsmen to build a hefty first-innings lead.

A recalled Josh Hazlewood (3-58) bowled brilliantly to carve up England's top order, while Pat Cummins (3-61) used intimidatory short-pitched bowling to do the damage at the other end.

Nathan Lyon (3-68) was typically persistent and tricky to handle, drawing level with Dennis Lillee on 355 wickets as the third-most prolific Test bowler in Australia's history.

Australia was left to face 20 overs at the end of an extended day's play, with Warner falling for the third time to Stuart Broad in as many innings this series.

Warner was dismissed for the third time in the series by Broad. ( AP: Frank Augstein )

Both Warner (3) and Cameron Bancroft (5 not out) looked scratchy against the full-blown pace of Broad and debutant Jofra Archer, and it was Warner who was first to pay the price with his wicket.

Even a batsman in form would have struggled to deal with a sensational delivery from Broad, which cut in off the seam and cleaned up the bails.

Bancroft and new partner Usman Khawaja (18 not out) both survived some excellent bowling from the seamers, but gradually settled into the task and earned the right to build on their totals on day three.

Recalled Hazlewood shows his worth

Hazlewood showed he was well rested from the merriment of the first Test when he ripped through England's top order, removing Jason Roy for a duck in the second over of the day thanks to a regulation edge to the keeper.

England's top order found Hazlewood impossible to deal with at Lord's. ( Reuters: Paul Childs )

He then trapped star batsman Joe Root (14) plumb in front with a full delivery, before dismissing Joe Denly (30) in a new spell to peg England back at 3-92.

England opener Rory Burns led a brief recovery for the hosts with a half-century, but fell soon after reaching the milestone to Pat Cummins thanks to an incredible catch.

Cameron Bancroft did his utmost to steal the show with a blinding snatch at short leg, diving to his left to at first fumble a shot off Burns's hip before pouching the ball with his fingertips while at full stretch.

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After seeing two golden chances grassed off his own bowling — one at chest height to Usman Khawaja at gully and the other dropped by the keeper — Peter Siddle got among the wickets when he got a thin edge off Jos Butler's (12) willow through to Tim Paine.

Lyon then deceived Ben Stokes, attempting a paddle shot, only to get trapped on the pad for LBW.

Nathan Lyon now has as many Test wickets as Dennis Lillee. ( AP: Frank Augstein )

There were shoots of recovery as Jonny Bairstow (52) and Chris Woakes (32) knuckled down for a 72-run seventh-wicket partnership, frustrating a string of Australian bowlers.

But the pair were finally separated when Woakes attempted to pull Cummins, offering a feather touch off the glove to the keeper.

Archer's batting debut in Test cricket did not last long as he top-edged Cummins to Khawaja at backward point for 12, before Broad was bowled by Lyon to a ball that went straight on and just clipped the bail.

Lyon joined Hazlewood and Cummins with three wickets apiece when Bairstow skied a sweep to Khawaja in the deep at midwicket to end the innings on 258 and draw level with the legendary Lillee.

See how the day unfolded in our live blog: