Glenn McGrath's big Scott Boland call amid Mitchell Starc Ashes dilemma

A green wicket at Lord's could spell bad news for veteran Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc, according to Glenn McGrath, with the legendary quick predicting the conditions will be better suited to Scott Boland. Both pacemen appear to be vying for the final spot in the Aussie bowling attack, with the visitors knowing a win in the second Ashes Test will go a long way to claiming the series.

Starc will be chomping at the bit to regain his place in the Aussie XI after being overlooked in favour of Boland for the first Test at Edgbaston, on a lifeless pitch that largely suited the batters. Selectors opted for the normally economical Boland, whose match figures of 2-147 surprisingly made him the most expensive of the Aussie bowlers.

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Boland's predictability ultimately played into England's hands at Edgbaston, as the home side's batters feasted on his metronomic line and length. McGrath - who was renowned for that same precision - believes conditions at Lord's will be tailor-made for Boland this time around.

The Aussie legend - who took a staggering 563-Test wickets in his glittering career - admits selectors will be loathe to omit Starc for a second consecutive match. McGrath has seen images of the green Lord's deck though and believes it will offer plenty of subtle movement for a quick such as Boland.

"Australia will give some serious consideration to their team for Lord's. They were desperate for Scott Boland to play at Edgbaston, but the dry conditions turned out to be difficult for him. England really looked to get after him," McGrath wrote for the BBC.

"Mitchell Starc will be straining at the leash to play this week, especially after sitting out in Birmingham and playing just once on the last tour in 2019. It could be that the Lord's conditions are more suited to Boland's pitch-up, nibble-around style, but I'm not sure Australia will want to leave Starc out for two consecutive matches."

Aussies can all but clinch series with second Test win

Regardless of who selectors go with, McGrath says another win for Pat Cummins' men at Lord's will all but guarantee the Aussies retain the urn. If they do take a 2-0 series then England would require nothing less than winning all three remaining Tests to regain the Ashes.

McGrath's freak injury before the second Ashes Test in 2005 was the catalyst for a stirring fightback from England and the last time a side has come from 1-0 down to claim an Ashes series win. The legendary quick believes like now, his side would have won the series if they had taken out the second Test. "The same is true now. If Australia win at Lord's, the Ashes are done and dusted," McGrath added.

England's 'Bazball' approach and aggressive tactics - namely Ben Stokes' day one declaration at Edgbaston - have been widely scrutinised with England great Sir Geoffrey Boycott saying England may as well be a "circus" if they are going to prioritise entertainment over results. McGrath sees things differently though and has praised England's approach, with Stokes refusing to back down.

"(England) are aggressive, positive and back themselves. That is what I want to see from all sportspeople. Only when you play without fear do you learn what you are truly capable of," McGrath added.

"Did England take it too far in Birmingham? It's a fine line. Declaring on the first evening would have looked brilliant had they taken a wicket or two, but they didn't."

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