5 ways England can win 2nd Test against Australia and revive series

Preparations continue for England and Australia heading to Lord’s for the second Ashes Test this week.

Australia take their 1-0 lead to London with England out to correct the mistakes that led to the narrow two-wicket defeat.

Whether England stick or twist with the same XI come the opening day on Wednesday may depend on Moeen Ali’s fitness, likewise how James Anderson is faring after admitting he did not enjoy bowling a single over in the first Test.

And if lessons are learned from Edgbaston then England may also make changes elsewhere. Here’s how they could make amends and tie the series.

Keep going hard at Australia

Despite the narrow defeat at Edgbaston, England, a side transformed from the shower hammered Down Under 18 months ago, rattled Australia. No Aussie bowler in the first innings went at under four an over and the aggression was at times off the charts.

There will be calls to temper that approach at Lord’s but it would be a mistake. England’s best chance of winning the series is, as coach Brendon McCullum said last week, to keep “throwing punches”.

The good news is it looks like that’s exactly what they’ll do in the second Test, with Joe Root insisting the players would “double down” on Bazball and Ollie Robinson, in his now infamous Wisden.com column, saying: “I think the way we’re playing, you could see us come even harder at Lord’s, which is quite a tough thing to do when you’re 1-0 down. We spoke about it in the dressing room. ‘Were we aggressive enough? Did we go hard enough?’ One thing I can guarantee. You’re going to see us come harder and harder.”

It already looks like England have hit Scott “build the man a statue” Boland out of the attack for Lord’s, with left-arm quick Mitchell Starc set to come in. Boland’s match figures of two for 147 told of the punishment he took. And no doubt England’s batters will be targeting Starc, a bowler prone to leaking runs.

Cut out the sloppy mistakes

There’s no denying England weren’t at their sharpest in the first Test. Forget the first-innings declaration or Joe Root being stumped dancing down the track to Nathan Lyon in the second. The numerous dropped catches, Jonny Bairstow’s missed first-innings stumping of Cameron Green and the 23 no-balls were what ultimately cost them at Edgbaston.

Cut out the mistakes, even by half, and they will be in a far better position. It’s all well and good going hard but England need to be ruthless with it too.

Don’t take a risk on Moeen’s injury

The signs are that Moeen Ali’s recovery from the injured finger he sustained in the first Test is going better than most had expected. Don’t be surprised if he is passed fit. But, and it’s a big but, no chances can be taken on him.

If there’s any possibility that spinning finger could restrict his bowling again, he can’t be risked. Had he been bowling at 100 per cent on the final day at Edgbaston England would have almost certainly won. After almost two years out of first-class cricket, this injury was predictable.

So there cannot be any risk of history repeating itself at Lord’s. If in doubt, leave Moeen out. And if that’s the call, go with an all-seam attack, picking Lord’s specialist Chris Woakes ahead of rookie teenage spinner Rehan Ahmed, who could be destroyed by Australia’s batters.

Pick Mark Wood

England’s quickest bowler may be better suited to the faster pitches at Headingley and Old Trafford, where the third and fourth Tests are taking place. But he is needed this week to add some variety and venom into a one-paced bowling attack.

Australia will not want to face Wood, the only England bowler capable of consistently topping 90mph. His pace will be especially useful bowling at Australia’s tail, something England could have done with on the final day at Edgbaston. So at 1-0 down in the series, pick Wood now and worry about the rest of the series later.

Consider resting James Anderson

England’s all-time leading wicket-taker wasn’t his usual self in the first Test, taking one for 109. Now we know why after he complained about the Edgbaston pitch in his column for the Daily Telegraph.

“That pitch was like kryptonite for me,” he said. “There was not much swing, no reverse swing, no seam movement, no bounce and no pace. I felt like I was fighting an uphill battle. It’s a long series and hopefully, I can contribute at some point, but if all the pitches are like that I’m done in the Ashes series.”

Strong words from the 40-year-old and maybe a sign he should be taken out of the firing line this week? He will have to be rested at some stage and England will want Anderson at Headingley and his home ground of Old Trafford.

It would be a huge call to leave him out but an all-seam attack of Wood, Robinson, Stuart Broad and Woakes would give Australia something else to think about, even if the Lord’s pitch is flat as well.