Deadline: August 14, 2019 at 3:30 PM IST
Venue: Lord’s, London
Pitch report
The highest score belonged to Jack Leach, a night watchman, in the last match at Lord’s. Two innings before that, Ireland had bundled out England for 85. An innings later, England skittled out Ireland for 38. If anything, bowlers dominated throughout the game. Expect nothing less when England and Australia meet for the second match of the 2019 Ashes. Power up your fantasy team with pace batteries.
Match prediction
Australia have won more matches (15) than England (7) at Lord’s, in The Ashes. In the 2015 edition, Steven Smith’s 215 flattened England to the London dust and Australia won the match by a massive margin of 405 runs.
England are already 0-1 down, but this is not the first time they are trailing. They had bounced back in the 2005 Ashes. At the very venue, England had lost the first match but later managed to win the series 2-1.
Team combinations
England have dropped Moeen Ali at the expense of Jack Leach, while Jofra Archer will make his Test debut replacing the injured James Anderson.
Probable XI for England: Rory Burns, Jason Roy, Joe Root (c), Joe Denly, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Jack Leach, Chris Woakes, Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad
Australia have rested James Pattinson, naming Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc in the 12-man squad.
Probable XI for Australia: Cameron Bancroft, David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Matthew Wade, Tim Paine (c & wk), Josh Hazlewood/Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon
NOTE: Pick your fantasy cricket team wisely.
Fantasy team
We have opted for a fantasy team on the basis of players’ impact, recent performances, and credit points.
You can also check players’ performances in the last 5 matches. Tap on the players’ names to get the data while making your fantasy team.
My 11: Matthew Wade (wk), Travis Head, Steven Smith (c), Joe Root, Usman Khawaja, Rory Burn, Chris Woakes (vc), Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon
Players to watch out for
Lord’s is a favourite ground of many, but the reason is different for Chris Woakes. He not only has a hundred here but has taken 24 wickets in a mere 4 Tests. He is indeed the lord of the Lord’s.
Talking about lords, Smith has the highest average since 2016. He scored twin hundreds on his return to Test cricket. No wonder who writes his script.
Talking about scripts, Jofra Archer’s has been nothing short of a fairy tale. He was not even considered for the 2019 World Cup but ended being their highest wicket-taker and bowled the super over in final. He, now, will make his Test debut the home of cricket.
Thanks to Matthew Wade’s hundred and handy knocks from Travis Head that Australia stayed in the hunt. Their knocks helped Steven Smith smash the hosts to nothingness. England will have find it a way to pierce through Australia’s strong middle-order.
Also, get to know the tips & tricks on how to play fantasy cricket
