After an encouraging start, England limped to a resounding 251-run defeat to a Steve Smith-inspired Australia in the First Ashes Test of 2019.
The onus is therefore on Joe Root’s side to bounce back at Lord’s, the scene of their extraordinary Cricket World Cup triumph just a month ago.
Jofra Archer, one of that day’s heroes, is poised for a Test debut, providing a much-needed boost after Jimmy Anderson was sidelined with a calf injury sustained at Edgbaston.
After the World Cup was disrupted by unprecedented summer rainfall, the Test in Birmingham remained relatively unaffected – here’s all you need to know about what conditions will be like at Lords.
Wednesday 14 August – Day One: According to the Met Office conditions for Lord’s, which is situated in St John’s Wood, north-west London, look particularly bleak on day one. Wednesday is set to start with light rain, becoming ominously heavy for long spells 10.00am and 4.00pm and not abating until after the day’s play – maximum temperatures are forecast at 17C.
Thursday 15 August – Day Two: Things look more promising on Thursday’s day two, which is predicted to be cloudy but crucially dry, with no more than a 10 per cent chance of rainfall. It should be warmer too, with peaks of around 22C in mid-afternoon.
Friday 16 August – Day Three: The weather looks more changeable for day three, with cloudy and overcast conditions giving way to rain in the mid-to-late afternoon. From 4.00pm there is a 60 per cent chance of rainfall, while the temperature will reach highs of around 18C.
Saturday 17 August – Day Four: It’s another unsettled affair on Saturday, with a 40 per cent chance of rainfall at any point between lunchtime and the close of play. It should at least be a bit sunnier than Friday, with highs of 21C.
Sunday 18 August – Day Five: If the match has made it through to a fifth day again (with or without assistance from the weather), Sunday too may face disruption. From lunchtime onwards the chance of rain hovers around 30 per cent, although the sun should break through with temperatures reaching 20C.
Full Ashes series schedule
- 1st Test: Edgbaston (1-5 August)
- 2nd Test: Lord’s (14-18 August)
- 3rd Test: Headingley (22-26 August)
- 4th Test: Old Trafford (4-8 September)
- 5th Test: The Oval (12-16 September)
The squads for the second Test
England
- Joe Root (C)
- Jofra Archer
- Jonny Bairstow
- Stuart Broad
- Rory Burns
- Jos Buttler
- Sam Curran
- Joe Denly
- Jack Leach
- Jason Roy
- Ben Stokes
- Chris Woakes
Australia
- Tim Paine (C)
- Cameron Bancroft
- Pat Cummins
- Marcus Harris
- Josh Hazlewood
- Travis Head
- Usman Khawaja
- Marnus Labuschagne
- Nathan Lyon
- Mitchell Marsh
- Michael Neser
- James Pattinson
- Peter Siddle
- Steven Smith
- Mitchell Starc
- Matthew Wade
- David Warner
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