England may have lost the first Test match of the Ashes series against Australia, but they have a chance to bounce back in the second Test at Lord’s. Head coach Brendon McCullum had previously explained that England wanted flat and fast pitches, but they have since opted for a greener surface, dropping spinner Moeen Ali and picking an all-seam attack.
It’s the least Bazball surface for the biggest game of the McCullum reign, and it’s the right decision. England have reverted to home advantage, the sort of pitch that helped them beat Australia in 2013 and 2015. With their main spinner out of the picture and Mark Wood still not fully fit, England is well aware of what has happened to Jofra Archer with a similar elbow problem.
It was noticeable that Josh Tongue looked sharper than Wood when the pair bowled together on the outfield at Edgbaston during breaks in the first Test, which benefits match practice, and that’s why he was selected for this game. Tongue can clock 90mph but averages mid-80s, and he will be held back for the short ball tactic which he became better at as the Ireland Test wore on. There was more pace and carry in the Ireland pitch than those at Lord’s last year, the effect of digging up the square over the winter, but it will not be quick.
Stokes has read out a pre-prepared statement responding to the ICEC report, pointing out his own state school background and how cricket is a sport where dreams can come true regardless of heritage or privilege. But the best way to set the example this week is make it 1-1 and entertain again. Australia, on the other hand, has a decision to make over Scott Boland or Mitchell Starc’s pace. Boland will be well-suited to Lord’s and the slope, and Starc could leak runs that allows England’s top three inject early impetus.
England would hope to win the toss and bowl on day one, allowing their seamers to dictate early. But if they bat first, it will be Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, and Ollie Pope who will be in the firing line, and two of the three had low scoring matches in Birmingham. All three have doubts over techniques against quick bowling.
With the rain reasonably likely to interfere at some stage over the five days of this match, it’s important for both teams to hold their catches and handle good and bad luck with the same self-control. Australia’s approach is to go with Nathan Lyon, who will bowl the bulk overs for Australia in his 100th consecutive Test, five short of his 500th wicket. Lyon passed the Bazball examination in Birmingham, accepting he was going to concede runs but picked off eight wickets, the flow of runs against him falling as the match wore on.
