Ashes 2023: Top 5 Player Battles to Watch Out for in Lord's Test

Following the blockbuster first Test of Ashes 2023 at Edgbaston, action will now move to Lord’s, London, where the second contest of the distinguished tournament will be played between England and Australia. In the intriguing series opener, Australia clinched a two-wicket victory with the help of all-round performance of their captain Pat Cummins.

In the second game, Australia will look to continue the winning momentum at the iconic stadium, while England will strive to make a comeback in the second contest and open their victory account. In the upcoming match, some enticing contests will be witnessed by fans as battles between some quality players from both sides will be a treat to the eyes.

Here are five player battles to look out for

5. Ben Stokes vs Josh Hazlewood

England skipper Ben Stokes struggled with the bat in the first Test. Facing Josh Hazlewood in the first innings, Stokes got dismissed on one. This was the second occasion when the southpaw gave his wicket to the Aussie speedster in the longest form of the game.  

In the second Test, Stokes’ endeavours will be to lead from the front and contribute something solid to his team in all departments of the game. Hazlewood, who took three wickets in the last game, will look forward to spearheading Australia’s bowling unit efficiently.

So far, both Hazlewood and Stokes have faced each other in 14 innings, in which the England captain has scored 103 runs. While Hazlewood has the upper hand over Stokes, dismissing the 32-year-old a couple of times in the prestigious Ashes competition.