2nd Ashes Test: England make MAJOR change to Playing XI ahead of Lord’s Test

Joe Root is expected to fill in as the only spinner with England opting for four seamers for the second Test.

2nd Ashes Test: England make MAJOR change to Playing XI ahead of Lord’s Test

Team England (Image via ICC Cricket)

Hosts England made a major change to their playing XI ahead of the 2nd Ashes Test. The Ben Stokes-led side dropped comeback man Moeen Ali for the Lord’s Test while recalling pacer Josh Tongue. Meanwhile, the rest of the ten players retained their spot in the last XI. 

Moeen Ali has been left out after the off-spinner suffered a burst blister on his right index finger at Edgbaston. Joe Root is expected to fill in as the only spinner with England opting for four seamers for the second Test. Talking about Tongue, the right-arm pacer took a fifer (5/66) at the same venue when England played against Ireland earlier this month.

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England XI: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jonathan Bairstow (wk), Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue, James Anderson

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England prepare Green Top for 2nd Ashes Test

lord's cricket ground
Lord’s Cricket Ground (Image via Arch Daily)

After a two-wicket defeat in the first Ashes Test, England have gone on the offense and have produced a green top for the second Test. As per the pictures circulating on social media, the Lord’s wicket will have thick grass covering, aiding the swing bowlers. 

The team combination selected by England also indicates that the wicket will aid pacers over spinners, unlike the Edgbaston wicket which was termed ‘kryptonite’ by James Anderson. 

“That pitch was like kryptonite for me,” Anderson wrote in his column for The Telegraph. “There was not much swing, no reverse swing, no seam movement, no bounce and no pace. I’ve tried over the years to hone my skills so I can bowl in any conditions but everything I tried made no difference.”

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