One down, Four to go.
It’s that simple for the Australian’s as they go for a clean-sweep heading to Lords to take on the Poms in the second Ashes Test from this Wednesday night (AEST time)
The English Cricket team has a lot to try and recover from after blowing what was a brilliant start to the Test when they had the Aussies at 8/122 then our Lord and Cricketing saviour Steve Smith saved the day not just in the first innings but in the second one as well.
Rain permitting, we are in for yet another thrilling five nights of Test match cricket and the same ads for Wagner Vitamins/the old couple at McDonald’s on a constant loop.
With our unique insight, we preview our best bets for the second Test.
Australia’s chances of winning the second Test and making it a serious mountain to climb for the Poms look good.
If Steve Smith can keep up his brilliance and humble the English and shut up their crowds early, it will go a long way in ensuring that the Aussies claim yet another famous victory.
England will need to get Smith out nice and early if they are to have a sniff of a victory, which they won’t.
Joffra Archer making his Test debut adds some excitement to the English prospects and if Chris Woakes can make the most out of the pitch at Lords perhaps they’ll be a chance but momentum is a wonderful thing in sport and that loss at Edgbaston was demoralising.
I just think England’s batting line-up is a bit fragile and with Smith up and about, the hope of Warner getting into form and perhaps the GOAT (Nathan Lyon) having a day out we’re hoping for five sleep-deprived nights of Australian Cricket goodness.
That’s provided the weather holds up.
Steve Smith was the story of Edgbaston but it’s time for the next story of redemption, this time for Dave Warner.
To state the bleeding obvious, Warner did not have the greatest first Test scoring a combined total of 10 runs (2, 8) in Birmingham and the only highlight was him emptying out his pockets in front of the Barmy Army, showing the world that yes, the man actually has a sense of humour to him.
Warner is a proud man and when he gets his mongrel on, he can really do some damage with the bat.
Dave Warner getting back in the groove with a Century in the second Test at Lords is a realistic prospect and along with Steve Smith, the two getting runs and keeping the English crowd quiet would be amazing.
While a lot of the focus will be on Smith, never underestimate Warner.
At the $5 to get the runs should the conditions and the ever-changing Lords pitch play in his favour.
If England is to win the second Test they’ll need a standout performance from the captain.
Rory Burns was the story for England at the bat for the first Test but I’m not willing to back him to get another century at Lords.
Obviously, we’d prefer England to be all out for under 100 in the first innings but realistically you know they are going to put up a fight and Joe Root is the man to do it.
Back Root to get the runs to make things interesting.
How can anyone not love Garry! The GOAT! Or Nathan as his mother calls him.
Six wickets on the final night at Edgbaston securing Australia a 251 run in the first Test win was something to savour.
It’s hard to tell if the Lord’s pitch will be friendly to the spinner but with Garry on fire, I’m all about the GOAT giving the English nightmares at Lords.
I’d even go as far as saying this is the Test he’ll get a hat-trick. This isn’t based purely on stats, more sentiment and a gut feel.
Hopefully, he’ll get his hat-trick bowling to Moeen Ali. It’d be fitting.
Back the GOAT.
With Jimmy Anderson out with a calf injury, much focus will be on (one of) their World Cup heroes Jofra Archer coming into the Test team.
If the Lord’s pitch gives Archer plenty to work with, he could give the likes of Steve Smith a tough day at the office.
The hopes and dreams of English Cricket lie on Jofra Archer and he’ll be feeling the pressure from the locals but strikes me as someone who will relish it and put on a show.
Jofra Archer keeps things interesting and is great to watch along with what we’ve seen him for the Hurricanes in the Big Bash in a previous life.
Speaking of the Hobart Hurricanes, just how will Bev from the Bev Show cope with the prospect of Jofra Archer bowling out Matthew Wade at 99?
Now that’s something I’d like to see streamed live.