Ashes 2023 | 'Wood Would Probably ' - Nasser Hussain Predicts England's XI For Lord's
Wood was England's most successful bowler in Australia in 2020 (Twitter)
Former England captain Nasser Hussain has urged the Ben Stokes-Brendon McCullum-led management to include an extra pacer in place of Moeen Ali for the 2nd Ashes Test at Lord's Cricket Ground, London.
Moeen returned from retirement in the last match but his spinning finger couldn't resist the pressure of long spells, and while he is recovering well, Hussain feels that it will be a massive gamble to play the off-spinner in the playing XI at a venue that doesn't traditionally favour spin.
England have included rookie leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed as a cover for Moeen, but Hussain asserted that the home side is better off playing an extra seamer in the form of Mark Wood or Chris Woakes, leaving Joe Root to handle the lone spinners' role.
England could play four seamers at Lord's: Hussain
"I think they need to have a look at their team a bit. Moeen Ali, his finger, that would be a gamble. I know he's got a week off and he's had this injury before in 2017. Only Moeen will know whether a week is enough for the skin to heal, or whether that would just rip it up again. He may not bowl as many overs at Lord’s. Lord’s is not a spinning paradise. Shane Warne never got a five-for there. I might play four seamers and Joe Root as your spinner, but I've not seen the pitch," Hussain said on ICC's weekly podcast.
When asked about which of Wood or Woakes should England include in their line-up, the former skipper said:
''He (Wood) would probably have to come in for Moeen and use Joe Root as your spinner, so go down the four seamers route, or Chris Woakes. Chris Woakes has got a fantastic record at Lord's, and that would increase the batting as well, another all-rounder in there.''
The 2nd Ashes Test will kick-off at Lord's from June 28.
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