England vs Australia Prediction & Betting Tips - The Ashes - Second Test

Prediction published on 27/06/2023, 13:30  by Devesh Jaganath in Cricket Predictions

The second Test of the Ashes series will head to Lord’s Cricket Ground this Wednesday as England look to level the series after losing last week at Edgbaston. The host's Bazball style of cricket was on display yet again in the first Test and has gained a few skeptics since, as the English batting lineup collapsed in the second innings with no batsman managing to score over 46 runs. Joe Root’s 118 in the first innings was the highlight of the match for England and also saw him move back to the top of the ICC World Test batting rankings, overtaking Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, and Travis Head. While their batting was average at best, the undoubted weak point for the hosts was their bowling, with only Stuart Broad catching the eye on a pitch that did very little to help the pacemen. Moeen Ali picked up an injury and may not feature here, while Mark Wood could replace James Anderson, who hardly affected the game. Stokes came under scrutiny in the week for a questionable declaration decision in the first inning, though the skipper has said that his side will not change their approach and added that they will look to go even harder in this match. But can they get the better of the Aussie bowling attack? 

Australia jumped to a 1-0 lead after an enthralling battle of the nations that came down to the final five overs. With Smith and Labuschagne failing to impact the scoreline, it was the opener Usman Khawaja that stepped up in a big way in the first innings scoring 141, while Alex Carey notched up 66 to keep the scoreline close heading into the second innings. Pat Cummins was the standout in the closing stages as the Aussie captain led with both bat and ball, bagging four wickets and scoring a match-winning 44 runs. Nathan Lyon stood firm with his captain as England tried to snatch defeat on the final day, and the spinner is also the leading wicket-taker in the series, having taken four wickets in each inning. The major difference between the sides was in the bowling department, and with rain expected in London this week, the visitors may be tempted to toss Mitchell Starc into the starting lineup. The left-armer's pace and swing will no doubt cause problems in overcast conditions, and if he is returned to the fray, it would likely mean that Scott Boland will make way.