Scott Boland has reportedly been dropped for the second Ashes Test against England, with Mitchell Starc recalled ahead of the Lord’s fixture.
As first reported by News Corp, Starc has been picked ahead of the Victorian seamer, with no other changes to Australia’s starting XI.
The toss is scheduled for 7.30pm AEST, with the first ball at 8pm.
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Weather could once again wreak havoc as England attempts to level the series against Australia in the second Ashes Test at Lord’s.
The Aussies stole a two-wicket victory in the first Test at Edgbaston on an incredibly flat wicket that left England great Jimmy Anderson claiming he was “done” for the series if similar wickets were served up.
It appears the Lord’s groundskeepers heard Anderson’s prayers, with players from both sides set to be greeted by a green wicket.
With the seamers set to benefit more from that style of pitch than the spinners, England opted to use batter Joe Root as its only spin option in the bowling attack as Josh Tongue was swapped in for Moeen Ali.
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The green top also becomes even more dangerous depending on the weather.
According to the BBC, the forecast for day one does not show any windows of clear skies.
Additionally, rain is expected overnight ahead of day two which places an even greater importance on winning the toss for day one.
Speaking on Fox Cricket’s Ashes Preview show, former England skipper Michael Vaughan outlined the impact a cloudy day can have on a green wicket at Lord’s.
“Lord’s is all about the overheads,” Vaughan said.
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“If the clouds are around, the ball might move around a bit. A dry week and blue sky, it’ll be pretty flat. You’ve just got to be able to use the slope.
“If it’s flat, I can’t see them (Australia) not getting 600 runs in the Test match.
“If I was England, I’d be trying to make it into a 500-run Test match where the ball’s nipping around and you might get 350 in one innings but you might get them for 150 in the other.”
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MCGRATH SAYS SERIES ‘DONE AND DUSTED’ IF AUSSIES WIN
Australian great Glenn McGrath has predicted an Aussie win in the second Test would effectively seal the series for the visitors.
No team has sealed a comeback win since England’s remarkable 2005 resurgence – in which McGrath predicted an Aussie whitewash and tore through the hosts in the first Test at Lord’s, only to suffer an ankle injury in the warm-ups for the second Test.
Australia collapsed to a dismal series loss.
But the iconic seamer has written for the BBC that this year’s second Test will be just as crucial for the series.
“The last time a team came from behind to win the Ashes was in 2005, a series I was right in the thick of,” writes McGrath.
“We were 1-0 up heading into the second Test at Edgbaston, a match I sat out after the infamous incident of treading on the ball in the warm-up.
“We lost a thrilling Test by two runs, but I will always maintain that the series would have been won had we got over the line that day.
“The same is true now. If Australia win at Lord’s, the Ashes are done and dusted.
“England arrive at Lord’s with more pressure on their shoulders. If they lose, I can’t see a way that they get back into the series.”
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