AUS v ENG, The Ashes, 2nd Test Preview: Arch-rivals gear up for a historic pink-ball Test

For the first time since the inception of this legendary rivalry in 1882, The Ashes will be played under the lights, with a different coloured ball. Who would’ve expected the game to progress so much and certainly, this is the first of many more Pink-ball Tests to come in the Ashes. After bowing down to the hosts in a breathtaking Test match at Brisbane, Adelaide will play hosts for this crucial encounter.

Whilst many Pundits have predicted that a 5-0 outcome is on cards, one can’t overrule a fact that the English were in the driver’s seat for a major while in the first two days. It wouldn’t be unfair to say that Steve Smith made a difference between a draw/English victory and Australia triumphing. The skipper’s majestic knock, completely against the run of play, propelled them to a slender 26-run first innings lead and eventually, they won the game convincingly.

The pressure is mounting on the “Stokes-Less” Three Lions, who currently resemble a warrior on the battlefield without a weapon. Alastair Cook has been under the scrutiny for the way he got dismissed on both occasions and Root once again got out after scoring a fifty. The bowlers did well in the first innings but got slaughtered in the second. There are plenty of areas where they have to work on and if this game is lost, it’ll be next to impossible for them to retain the Urn.

AUSTRALIA (Playing XI): Cameron Bancroft, David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith (C), Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon

ENGLAND (Predicted XI): Alastair Cook, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Joe Root (C), Dawid Malan, Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Chris Woakes, Jake Ball, Stuart Broad, James Anderson

Focus will be on

Steve Smith (Australia)

From entering the elite level as a spinner to becoming the pillar of the Australian batting lineup, Smith’s journey has been dramatic. Whenever the side is under pressure, the fans and the pressure look up to him, just the way it happened in the case of Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting or Jacques Kallis. He’s definitely at par with Kohli at this juncture, if not ahead in the longest format. Once again, the onus will be on him to drive them to a big score facing a tricky pink ball.

Alastair Cook (England)

Nathan Lyon mentioned before the commencement of the series that this edition of the Ashes will bring curtains to one or more careers. The social media was flooding with memes suggesting Cook might be the first entry in that unenviable list. Arguably one the modern day greats, Cook needs to score now more than ever before. He has been in this situation before, which gives his fans a hope that he will recover, but his challenges will only get harder under the lights.

Playing combinations

Australia

No changes are expected in the Aussie squad despite a little hiccup in the triumphant Gabba Test. David Warner will take charge of the innings alongside Cameron Bancroft, who played a splendid knock on International debut at Brisbane. With Khawaja coming in at 3, Steve Smith, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, and Tim Paine will follow in the middle order.

The four-man bowling attack did a wonderful job in the first Test. Mitchell Starc and Patrick Cummins were lethal with their pace and Josh Hazlewood, as always, was metronomically accurate. Nathan Lyon chipped in with crucial wickets as well, much to the delight of the Australian fans who had their share of doubts before the series began.

England

With Alastair Cook and Mark Stoneman taking guard initially, James Vince, the youngster who played a brilliant knock in the first innings of the first game, will come in at number 3. Joe Root needs to get big scores and half-centuries won’t do any good to his reputation. Dawid Malan, Moeen Ali, and Jonny Bairstow will follow in the middle order.

Jake Ball might not get another game to prove his talent and Tom Curran might replace him. Chris Woakes wasn’t at his best in the previous game, so was Moeen Ali. James Anderson and Stuart Broad once again will remain the pillars of this bowling attack, which currently is facing the heat.

StatAttack

3 – In the three Pink Ball Tests Australia played they won the games convincingly.

7 – This is the seventh Day-Night Test in cricket history, 4th for the Aussies, 2nd for the English, and the first ever in Ashes history.

9 – Stuart Broad is nine wickets short of 400 Test scalps.

29 – Steve Smith requires 29 more runs to complete 3,000 runs as a captain.