The Ashes, England v Australia, 2nd Test, Lords, Live Streaming
The Ashes series moves on to Lords, London this week as the 2nd test between England and Australia gets underway on Thursday. After a tremendous rearguard action by England on day 5 in Cardiff, the sides are all square as we head to London.
The majority of people reading this preview would not have been born when England last beat Australia in a test match at Lords. The majority of people who saw the England tail enders Monty Panesar and Jimmy Anderson take England to a draw in the first test will still be pinching themselves. That’s what they did though and its all square with 4 to play.
England’s bowling was a major let down at Cardiff, they managed to take just 6 Australian wickets in 181 overs with the 5 front line bowlers all conceding over 100 runs. Flintoff looked dangerous at times but the Australian batsmen were successful where England’s batting failed – they turned starts into big scores and took control of the test match. With 4 centurions (Ponting, Katich, Haddin and North) and an 83 from Michael Clarke, England need to have a serious think about how, and who, can help them take 20 wickets in a test match to turn things in their favour.
The Venue, Lords:
Back in 2005, Australia were comfortable winners against England. It was a low scoring test match with Australia making just 190 after winning the toss and electing to bat. Harmison was chief destroyer with 5 wickets. England couldn’t capitalise though and they were dismissed for just 155 in 48 overs as McGrath, Lee and Warne ripped through the batting order. Australia turned up the pressure from then on; Michael Clarke made 91 in a 2nd innings total of 384 leaving England with a mountain to climb. It never looked likely and so it proved as England were all out for 180 and Australia ran out winners by 239 runs. It was the first match in the 2005 series, a series which Australia went onto lose.
Following the 2005 Ashes Test, Lords witnessed England play out 6 consecutive drawn test matches against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, West Indies, India, New Zealand and South Africa. The most recent Lord’s test match took place earlier this year when England broke the sequence of drawn games with a comprehensive 10 wicket win over a rather dispirited looking West Indies side.
With the draw always starting a pretty shot price in test matches, let’s take a closer look at the circumstances which led to that series of drawn matches.
England v Sri Lanka 2006 – England declared at 551/6 and looked to be in control after dismissing Sri Lanka for just 192. Think again, Sri Lanka following on, batted out the remainder of the test to reach 537/9 before bad light ended play on the 5th day. In all, just short of 400 overs were bowled.
England v Pakistan 2006 – England 1st innings, 528/9 declared, Pakistan 1st innings 445. England 2nd innings 296/8 declared, Pakistan 2nd innings 214/4. In all 435 overs were bowled.
England v West Indies 2007 – England 1st innings 553/5 declared, West Indies 1st innings 437. England 2nd innings 284/8 declared, West Indies 89/0. In all, 346 overs were bowled as rain and bad light halted proceedings.
England v India 2007 – England 1st innings 298, India 201. England 2nd innings 282, India 2nd innings 282/9 (target 380). In all 343 overs were bowled as England were denied victory by rain.
England v New Zealand 2008 – Less than 290 overs were bowled as the weather once again spoilt the contest as play was halted midway through the 3rd innings of the match.
England v South Africa 2008 – England 1st innings 593/8 declared, SA 1st innings 247,. SA following on, 393/3. Over 400 overs were bowled but t was a tremendous 2nd innings from the Proteas which was responsible for the draw rather than the weather.
Looking at the above data, big 1st innings totals are commonplace at Lords for whoever wins the toss and it isn’t always bad weather which influences the outcome. After both England and Australia batted well in their 1st innings of the opening test match in Cardiff, we could well see another huge first innings total.
Team News:
England are likely to ditch the twin spin option which failed at Cardiff. Monty Panesar will probably make way from the starting XI. Graham Onions (who took 7 wickets here against the West Indies) or Steve Harmison would be the most likely replacement. There is also a doubt over Andrew Flintoff who a has knee problem
Squad: A Strauss (capt), J Anderson, I Bell, R Bopara, S Broad, P Collingwood, A Cook, A Flintoff, S Harmison, G Onions, M Panesar, K Pietersen, M Prior (wkt), G Swann
Australia probable line up:
With Brett Lee already ruled out whilst at least the 3rd test, barring any further injury problems, Australia are highly likely to go into the test unchanged.
Squad: Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, Phillip Hughes, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Marcus North, Peter Siddle.
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