Ashes 2023: 3 changes England can make to win second Test at Lord's

2. Create a spot for Mark Wood

In the first Test, England’s pace attack failed to perform up to the expectations. James Anderson, the premier bowler of the side, took only one wicket in the game. His ineffective bowling also impacted the team negatively. Anderson, who masters the art of providing breakthroughs to England, struggled to snare wickets in crunch situations.  

With England’s loss in the opening Test, several veterans such as Mark Ramprakash and Nick Compton are expecting Mark Wood’s return to the side for the second Test at Lord’s. Leading into the 2nd Test, the England team management will have to make a call on Anderson as the veteran pacer’s form is concerning.

Wood has a decent record against Australia in the longest format of the game. So far, the 33-year-old has played eight Tests against the Aussies, in which he has taken 27 wickets in 14 innings. In the 2021-22 Ashes edition, Wood had become the leading wicket-taker for England, scalping 17 wickets in four Tests.