Are you prepared for spherical two? The opening of this Ashes delivered all the things it had promised. Four extra matches of that stage of exhilaration will probably be a take a look at for everybody concerned.
So to Lord's, and 5 days that may seemingly determine if Australia can take a vice-like grip - and put themselves on track for a sequence win in England since 2001 - or whether or not the house facet can draw stage and arrange a probably nice sequence.
The marker for this sequence has been laid down. What occurs subsequent is actually anybody's guess. And that is a tantalising prospect.
(final 5 matches, most up-to-date first)England LWLWWAustralia WWDWL
England's response to defeat. What has been put collectively beneath Stokes and Brendon McCullum has clearly labored wonders, however it may't be unquestionable. Last summer time they bounced again in opposition to South Africa however the vacationers had a poor batting line-up. Their solely different defeat since then was the one-run loss to New Zealand in Wellington. Hitting again after going 1-0 down initially of a house Ashes is one thing fully totally different and the largest take a look at of the ethos (or cult?) that Bazball has created.
Labuschagne was twice achieved by Broad's new outswinger at Edgbaston, gathering his first golden duck in Test cricket within the course of. In his final 17 innings he has made simply two fifties at a mean of 33 which is significantly beneath the extraordinary excessive requirements he has set. Should he discover his groove at Lord's it will come on the floor the place his Test profession took off 4 years in the past after he was parachuted into the workforce as Smith's concussion sub.
England have modified the steadiness of their facet by calling up tempo bowler Josh Tongue to interchange Moeen Ali. Tongue took a five-wicket haul on his debut in opposition to Ireland at Lord's earlier this season. They have backed James Anderson and Stuart Broad to get via one other Test.
England 1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope, 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Ben Stokes (capt), 7 Jonny Bairstow, 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Ollie Robinson, 10 Josh Tongue, 11 James Anderson
Australia have narrowed down a 12 with the ultimate resolution more likely to be between Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland. England took Boland at almost six-an-over at Edgbaston however the grass on the floor at Lord's may maintain him within the body.
Australia 1 David Warner, 2 Usman Khawaja, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Travis Head, 6 Cameron Green, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Scott Boland/Mitchell Starc, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Josh Hazlewood
There was a major inexperienced tinge on the floor forward of the sport, however that's fairly regular for Lord's. There is the expectation of extra tempo and bounce than Edgbaston offered. The forecast is ok for the opening day however there's a probability of some interruptions after that.
Jonny Bairstow and Brendon McCullum cease for a break at England coaching•PA Images by way of Getty Images
"Cricket's a fickle game sometimes. He was the No.1 batter in the world then Broady nicks him off twice. Players like that don't miss out too often. Broady produced two unbelievable deliveries and it's always great to see the back of Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith early but quality players always find a way to bounce back. We won't be reading too much into it but it's nice knowing there might be something there for Marnus."Ben Stokes on Broad's success
"My phone went crazy for a couple of days. These Ashes series, like World Cup finals, you realise how many people love cricket and how much it means to them. Hearing everyone's stories about where they were when they found out what happened, or watching at all hours of the day is pretty cool."Pat Cummins on the response to Edgbaston
Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo
Please share by clicking this button!
Visit our site and see all other available articles!