England vs Australia 2nd Test Preview

England lock horns with Australia in the second 2023 Ashes Test at Lord’s, with the hosts looking to bounce back after their narrow two-wicket defeat at Edgbaston. Pat Cummins’ side edged out England in a nail-biting thriller in Birmingham to take a 1-0 lead in the series, with the Australian skipper and Nathan Lyon sharing a match-winning stand in the final hour on day five to give the visitors a famous victory.

The contrasting styles of England’s Bazball methods and Australia’s methodical approach made for a pulsating contest in Birmingham, and the bowler-friendly conditions expected at Lord’s could add to the drama in the series, setting up another lively encounter in the 2023 Ashes.

Players to watch out for: 

Josh Tongue

Josh Tongue is in line to make his first Ashes appearance at Lord’s for the second Test, with the Worcestershire seamer replacing Moeen Ali in the starting XI. Following his impressive debut against Ireland, the 25-year-old has been given the nod over Chris Woakes, Matthew Potts, and Mark Wood – who is yet to return to full fitness – giving England a four-man seam attack for the Lord’s Test.

Tongue has a promising first-class average of 25 in 48 matches and enjoyed great success at the same venue against Ireland earlier this summer, picking up 5 for 66 on debut to bowl England to victory on a slow wicket. Tongue also gives England a more attacking option with his extra pace and will be used in spurts as an enforcer to rattle the Australian batting line-up.

Marnus Labuschagne

Marnus Labuschagne endured a quiet series opener at Edgbaston last week, falling prey to Stuart Broad’s outswingers in both innings while also registering the first golden duck of his Test career. The number three returns to Lord’s for the first time since his scintillating Ashes debut as a concussion substitute in 2019 but will need to reverse his poor recent form in red-ball cricket in the second Test, with the ICC number one ranked batter scoring just two fifties in his last 17 innings.

Team News

With seaming conditions expected on a green pitch at Lord’s, England have made one change to their starting XI for the second Test, replacing Moeen Ali with fast-bowler Josh Tongue. The all-rounder has been side-lined due to the injury suffered to his index finger at Edgbaston last week, forcing England to go with an all-pace attack at Lord’s, with Joe Root as the lone spinner in the side.

Australia, meanwhile, are likely to stick with the same XI that took a 1-0 series lead at Edgbaston, with Mitchell Starc replacing Scott Boland as the only possible change to the side.

Probable XI’s

England: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue, James Anderson

Australia: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Josh Hazlewood