'Usually Stokes is very proactive' - Andrew Strauss evaluates Ben Stokes' tactics on Day 1 of Lord's Test

Australia had a fantastic start to Day 1 of the second Test of Ashes 2023 at Lord's as they ended with 339/5 at stumps with Steven Smith (85*) and Alex Carey (11*) at the crease. England captain Ben Stokes won the toss in overcast conditions and decided to bowl first. However, the England bowlers couldn’t make the most of the favourable conditions as Aussie openers David Warner and Usman Khawaja added 73 runs for the first wicket.

Commenting on England’s inability to use the conditions to their advantage, former England captain Andrew Strauss said that Stokes wasn’t too proactive with his captaincy in the middle and relied too much on the pitch.

“Usually Stokes is very proactive, trying different things, prising the batsmen out. I suppose his attitude today was 'let the pitch do it for us'. There was enough for that to be a sensible tactic,” Strauss was quoted as saying on Sky Cricket.

The three-time Ashes winner further said that the England bowlers didn’t put much effort to make things happen and were a little wayward.

"The problem was England's bowlers expected it to happen and perhaps didn't put enough into it. I thought they were a little wayward and looked like they lacked a bit of zip. They will be bitterly disappointed as they had a great opportunity and they fluffed their lines," he added.

Joe Root brings hosts back at Lord's after poor start

Notably, apart from James Anderson and Joe Root, all of England’s bowlers leaked runs at over four runs per over on Day 1. Root surprisingly was the pick of the bowlers on the opening day as he finished with figures of 2/19 in 8 overs. He picked up the prized scalp of Travis Head after the southpaw along with Smith put on a quick-fire 118-run stand off 120 balls.

Root further dismissed Cameron Green in the same over for a three-ball duck to bring England back into the game just before stumps. However, Australia still had their nose in front at stumps on 339/5.