Mitchell Starc questions looms over 'ghoulish' Lord's pitch reveal

Australia will be tempted to reunite Mitchell Starc with the Dukes ball after the Aussies were greeted to a green Lord's cricket pitch two days out from the second Ashes test. Pitch curators followed Ben Stokes' wishes and handed the host nation an atypical English wicket to allow Joe Root and the batters to carry out their aggressive approach.

Despite Stokes and co sticking to their 'BazzBall' style, the Aussies triumphed with Pat Cummins helping the tail chase down a record run-chase in dramatic style. England great James Anderson was critical of the pitch after the first test at Edgbaston, but Stokes admitted the team would be defiant and stick to their approach.

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However, in a sign that maybe the English have compromised to accomodate their bowlers, the curators have delivered what appears to be a greener pitch at Lord's. Cricket reporter Peter Lalor threw the idea out of potentially bowling first, normally against the nature of a captain, because of the 'ghoulish' nature of the wicket.

This also raises the question over whether Starc will come back into the line-up. The Aussie decided to run with Scott Boland in the first test on a rather flat wicket that offered very little for the majority of play.

The English batters targeted Boland's standard line and length. And with what appears to be a quicker and greener wicket in front of them in London, Australia could opt for Starc's left-arm speed in the second test.

Starc remains in the dark on whether he will play on Wednesday, but the bowler wasn't too surprised England have reacted after the Edgbaston setback. And when he was told the English batters are preparing for his left-arm assault, Starc couldn't help but crack a joke.

"Do they know something our selectors don't?" he said.

Mitchell Starc wary of England counter attack

However, Starc was adamant England would come harder at the Aussies having copped plenty of backlash over the first test. He also assured fans back at home the Australian team weren't at their best in the first test and there was more to come.

"We are coming off a good week but know we can play better cricket and the way England are playing their cricket, they will come as hard if not harder at us," he said. It is a chance to go 2-0 up. It is not lost on us the opportunity we do have.

"For some of us it is our fourth trip here and coming off the back of '19, where we retained the Ashes but missed out on winning, the carrot is certainly there. Certainly for the wider group, players and staff who have been so close or lost series here, it is certainly an incentive to keep going, but we are not looking too far past this week."

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