The Ashes cricket scores: England vs Australia 2nd Test, Day 1 live scores, blog

England will be looking to bounce back at Lord’s when they take on Australia in the second Test of the Ashes. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of Day 1, starting from 8pm (AEST).

Australia were immense at Edgbaston, notching their first Ashes Test victory at the venue since 2001. That’s not to say the performance was perfect with Steve Smith twice digging them out of trouble.

He scored two centuries and ultimately gave Australia a huge total to bowl at in the final innings, which of course proved too much for Joe Root’s side.

This second Test at Lord’s provides a wonderful opportunity for Australia to go 2-0 up and almost secure the series.

England appear slightly rattled at the moment. Root’s team has a number of players out of form, and it showed in the first match.

They have dropped Moeen Ali from the 12-man squad, calling up left-arm spinner Jack Leach in his place.

Smith only averages 34.9 against left-arm orthodox bowlers, which is one of the key reasons why Leach has been included in the squad.

Jofra Archer will almost certainly replace James Anderson, who injured his calf in the first Test, while Olly Stone also drops out of the squad with an injury. Sam Curran is once again in the XII, but appears likely to miss out on the final side once again.

As for Australia, there will only be the one change. James Pattinson has been rested, and his replacement will be either Mitchell Starc or Josh Hazlewood.

Cameron Bancroft enters the match under the most pressure, as he failed to fire in Birmingham. The same could be said for David Warner, but Bancroft does not have the weight of runs at Test level to allow himself a poor run of form.

Prediction
Rain, overcast conditions and a slightly green wicket are expected to have an impact on this second Ashes Test. If the rain stays away for long enough, expect Australia to go 2-0 up in the series.

England look rattled. Tim Paine’s men must capitalise, because the hosts will eventually click back into gear before this series is done.

Australia to go 2-0 up.

Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of Day 1 of the second Ashes Test, starting from 8pm (AEST).

Game information
First ball: 8pm (AEST)
Venue: Lord’s, London
TV: Live, Nine Network
Online: Live, 9Now
Betting: England $4.15, Draw $1.87, Australia $3.65
Umpires: Chris Gaffaney, Aleem Dar

England (12-man squad)
Rory Burns
Jason Roy
Joe Root (c)
Joe Denly
Jos Buttler
Jonny Bairstow (wk)
Ben Stokes
Chris Woakes
Jofra Archer
Stuart Broad
Jack Leach
Sam Curran

Australia (12-man squad)
David Warner
Cameron Bancroft
Usman Khawaja
Steve Smith
Travis Head
Matthew Wade
Tim Paine (c, wk)
Pat Cummins
Mitch Starc
Peter Siddle
Nathan Lyon
Josh Hazlewood

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