England started well and looked like they were about to come through with flying colours at the first Ashes Test. However, they failed miserably at seizing the moment and while they were leading by 122/8, the Aussies managed to turn the tide and gain a thumping victory, beating them by 251 runs. The culprits? The team's overall poor bat action and Jimmy Anderson's calf injury that kicked him out of the second test, to name just a couple.
The second Ashes Test will take place this Wednesday, 14th August at 11:00 am, UK time, at Lord’s in London. Rain is expected to fall, with temperatures in the 20-21degrees Celsius. Sky Sports Cricket will broadcast the match live, and the Sky Go app can also be used for keeping an eye on the event while on the go.
Predictions
England is expected to bring in all the elbow grease they can find if they want to repeat their first two excellent opening sessions during the first Test. Australia's cricket machine, Steve Smith, needs to be stopped at all costs and removed as early as possible. Smith has been called the best player since Donald Bradman and for good reason. The English team need to step up their game or risk the Aussies claiming a 2-0 lead in the second test series, provided the rain won't prevent players from giving their all. With ex Aussie captain, Ian Chappell, recently roasting the English team together with their selectors and England having to swing their selection axe for this second test, we cannot wait for the next confrontations.
Since the beginning of the 21st century, Australia have managed to beat England during the Home of Cricket event four times in six Tests. This automatically means a new win will give players Down Under a 2-0 lead and send them on a straight path to winning the Ashes series away for the very first time in the last 18 years. Ian Chappell predicted Australia will finish the series without defeat and will humiliate the English team. As long as the weather does not ruin the Aussies' plans, it could happen, given the problems that the English team has had, the most recent being the dropping of Moeen Ali and with Jack Leach being recalled for the second Test.
