- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
England will go without a frontline spinner for the second Ashes Test at Lord’s after calling seamer Josh Tongue into the team to replace Moeen Ali.
Moeen battled a badly blistered finger throughout the first Test at Edgbaston and was limited to bowling just seven overs on the final day as Australia chased down 281.
The decision to leave Moeen out at Lord’s means Joe Root will act as England’s sole spinner.
Tongue’s call-up means England have also opted against picking the out-and-out pace of Mark Wood for a second straight Test. He is faster than their other seamers and his extra pace could unsettle the Australian batters.
His selection comes after he made his debut against Ireland earlier this month, taking 5-66 in the second innings at Lord’s.
Josh Tongue. (Photo by Philip Brown/Getty Images)
The 25-year-old created headlines in May when he trapped Steve Smith lbw in the Australian star’s first county game against Worcestershire ahead of the Ashes.
Marnus Labuschagne also compared him to Scott Boland after coming up against him early in the county season.
“I saw some footage yesterday of him bowling and I thought there was a lot of Scott Boland about his action,” Labuschagne said earlier this month.
“The way he runs in. The angle he creates at the crease.
“He’s a nice bowler. I played against him earlier this year in Cardiff and he was very good.”
Tongue’s return for Moeen is the only change to England’s side, with Ben Duckett holding onto his spot at the top of the order and Jonny Bairstow retaining the gloves.
Mitchell Starc is so used to being sidelined by Australia that he couldn’t appear to be more laid-back about the big decision that awaits selectors before the Lord’s Test this week.
At least, that’s the way the beanpole comes across as he shrugs with a smile: “If I do get a chance, it’s going to be an exciting week; if not, the lunches here are pretty good too!”
The 33-year-old was the unlucky quick to miss out on selection for the thrilling first-Test win at Edgbaston but is tipped to be thrust straight back into the fray for the second match at the home of cricket beginning on Wednesday.
When it was suggested to him England were preparing for his swift left-arm assault in practice at Lord’s because they’re evidently convinced he’ll play on a wicket that looks greener and livelier than the Edgbaston pudding, Starc just grinned: “Do they know something our selectors don’t?”
Adamant that he’s not concerned about the speculation after being dropped 11 times down the years by Australia, he explained on Monday that he’s become accustomed to the ups and downs of being sidelined only to be brought back as a key strike bowler.
“I’m used to it from last time,” he smiled. “I’ve been around long enough, been dropped enough, probably been dropped the most in this squad, so it’s not something new for me. It probably won’t be the last time either.
“It’s never fun, everyone wants to play. If and when i get a turn, I’ll be ready to go. If not this week, then I’ll get ready for Headingley.”
But all the signs are that he will be thrust in this week, most likely at the expense of Scott Boland, who was targeted by the English batters at Edgbaston.
Starc has taken 37 wickets in 10 Tests in England but only featured once in 2019, when his four wickets at Old Trafford helped Australia retain the Ashes.
But he’s well aware that this is a not-to-be-missed opportunity for him and the older denizens in the bowling attack.
“We are coming off a good week but know we can play better cricket and the way England are playing their cricket, they will come as hard if not harder at us,” he said. “It is a chance to go 2-0 up. It is not lost on us the opportunity we do have.
“For some of us it is our fourth trip here and coming off the back of ’19, where we retained the Ashes but missed out on winning, the carrot is certainly there.
“Certainly for the wider group, players and staff who have been so close or lost series here, it is certainly an incentive to keep going, but we are not looking too far past this week.”
Never mind Bazball. Nathan Lyon has had to admit defeat in the Lord’s nets to the new cricketing force that is Piastriball.
Oscar Piastri, Australia’s lone Formula One driver, sped into the home of cricket on Monday, invited to have a bit of fun at the end of practice by the national team before Wednesday’s second Ashes Test.
And McLaren’s rookie demonstrated that he packs a punch with the bat as he took on first-Test hero Lyon, having been loaned the spinner’s bat and batting gear, and caught hold of a real beauty aimed over mid-wicket.
“Yeah, he hit it pretty well – I’ll give it to him,” said an impressed Lyon, when one onlooker suggested it would have been a six if it hadn’t ballooned into the nets.
“Well played!”
He also liked the look of Piastri’s forward defensive, laughing: “He’s almost got a better defence than a Pom … am I allowed to say that?”
London-based Piastri, who was enjoying a free day before flying off for the Austrian Grand Prix, also faced a few – thankfully gentle – deliveries from Mitchell Starc, and also looked to have some pace himself as he hurled down an over at Marnus Labuschagne.
He wasn’t the only star visitor hanging around the nets, with the team also meeting up with Geelong’s AFL legend Joel Selwood.
with AAP
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.