Unsettled Australia look to avoid 2-0

Clarke the batsman needs to step up

Even though it’s just the second Test of the series, it feels as if the momentum has swung in a completely opposite direction. England were the ones who were looking a bit unsettled and hence the pundits had placed their bets on Australia. But the roles are reversed now as the World number 2 are looking to get their campaign back on track.

But they need to beat the odds in order to do that as there have been so many developments in the last 48 hours. They will be playing this Test without two of their experienced campaigners in the form of Brad Haddin and Shane Watson. 

The 37-year-old wicket-keeper has opted out due to personal reasons, whereas the all-rounder has been dropped and is widely expected to be replaced by the young Mitchell Marsh. Phil Nevill will be making his debut and hopefully from Australia’s perspective, he doesn’t get overawed by the occasion as he will be playing his first ever Test match at Lord's.

England faced a scare earlier with Moeen Ali remaining doubtful for the match, but now the management has decided to play him despite minor concerns. Ian Bell was under some pressure after his first innings failure, but the crucial half-century in the second innings would have calmed some nerves. 

For Australia, Mitchell Starc would once again be the leader of the pack and if he can knock over first match centurion Joe Root soon, then the Aussies have a real chance of coming out on top right at the beginning.

It will also be interesting to see how the skippers fare with the bat as both of them had a very quiet Test match at Cardiff. 

Predicted lineups:

England: Adam Lyth, Alastair Cook (C), Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (WK), Moeen Ali, Stuart Broad, James Anderson and Mark Wood.

Australia: Chris Rogers, David Warner, Steven Smith, Michael Clarke (C), Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill (WK), Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon.