Ashes 2021-22: 2nd Test Preview – England seek parity in day-night affair
England suffered a hammering at the hands of the Australian side in the opening Ashes Test. The Aussies proved that The Gabba is indeed their fortress, and thrashed Joe Root and his men by nine wickets.
Now, England will enter the second Test under a lot of pressure. Their batting lineup faltered big time in the first rubber, and the England side could not post a total of even 300 in both innings of the first Test. Also, apart from Joe Root and Dawid Malan, none of the England batters could score a half-century in the entire Test.
On the other hand, the Aussies will enter this Test match with a lot of confidence. Their bowling lineup is firing, their batters plundered the England pace attack, and Pat Cummins started his stint as full-time Australian Test captain in a scintillating fashion.
The Aussie quicks had the pink ball doing plenty in the Adelaide nets! Just wait until the end…#Ashes | @alintaenergy pic.twitter.com/FpZy6gFIb9
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 14, 2021
With the bat, David Warner was amongst the runs, Marnus Labuschagne scored a fluent fifty, and Travis Head scored a pulsating 152 as well. Even with the ball, the likes of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon were outstanding.
The second rubber will be played with a Pink Ball and will be a Day-Night affair. Australia will be looking to take a 2-0 lead, while Joe Root’s men will look to put their misery in the 1st Test behind them and square the series.
Head-to-Head
Match Info
Australia vs England, 2nd Ashes Test
Venue: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Start Date and Time: 16th December 2021 at 09:30 AM IST
Team News
Australia
Just like the 1st Test, Australia have already announced their playing XI for the 2nd rubber as well. The Kangaroos have made just one change. Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the 2nd Test with an injury, and Jhye Richardson will take his place. The rest of the line-up will stay unchanged.
Predicted XI: Marcus Harris, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (WK), Pat Cummins (C), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Jhye Richardson
England
For England, Chris Silverwood confirmed that both James Anderson and Stuart Broad are fit. Mark Wood has been rested from this Test. Anderson is sure to make a comeback, and will most likely replace Wood in the side. And, Stuart Broad might take the place of Chris Woakes.
Predicted XI: Rory Burns, Haseeb Hameed, Dawid Malan, Joe Root (C), Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler (WK), Chris Woakes/ Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson, Jack Leach
