England’s hopes of making a comeback in the Ashes have been given a boost with the promise of more pace and carry on the pitch at Lord’s. Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson had criticized the characterless pitch at Edgbaston, which they blamed for England’s dramatic two-wicket loss to Australia in the first Test. However, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has been working to make the Lord’s pitch more bowler-friendly by increasing its pace. The groundsman has performed a significant renovation, including removing topsoil and relaying new grass, to make the pitch faster.
Australia’s Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, who were the top-ranked batsmen in the world before the first Test, will be looking to recover from their no-shows in the first game at Edgbaston. The pair combined for just 35 runs, with Labuschagne getting dismissed twice by Stuart Broad for a golden duck in two innings. In an optional training session, both Smith and Labuschagne were among nine players who were put through their paces at Lord’s on Saturday with a view to bouncing back in the second Test.
Australia coach Andrew McDonald has warned England of Smith and Labuschagne’s brilliance in treating the game like a mathematical equation and solving problems. He said it was an appetising thought that his team had won despite the pair’s lack of form in the first Test. However, this time, the duo will face a pitch that will favour the bowlers, which is the kind of surface Broad and Anderson relish.
England’s players will join up in London on Sunday to decide on their best attack for the faster pitch at Lord’s. Mark Wood could be an option, and Rehan Ahmed has joined the squad as cover for Moeen Ali. Meanwhile, Australia is likely to bring in Mitchell Starc to replace Josh Hazlewood or Scott Boland in their XI.
In conclusion, the second Ashes Test promises to be an intriguing encounter, with both teams looking to make an impact on the pitch. While Australia’s Smith and Labuschagne will look to use their mathematical equations to get back into form, England’s Broad and Anderson will be looking to exploit the pitch’s pace and carry to wreak some havoc on them.
