Ashes 2019: Australia win toss, elect to field in 2nd Test

Australia's Tim Paine in action on Day 4 of the first match of ICC World Test Championship between Australia and England at Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham, England on Aug 4, 2019. (Photo: Twitter/@ICC)


Australia skipper Tim Paine won the toss and decided to field in the second Ashes Test at the historic Lord’s on Thursday.

Notably, the opening day of the second Test was washed off and play will be extended in the last session on the remaining four days.

“We are gonna have a bowl first. Bit of weather around and the wicket has been under and also its gonna be a shortened game. We got one change, Hazlewood comes in for Pattinson and Josh’s got a great record here and its going to be exiciting to see him today morning. We want to make sure that James plays for Australia for the next 4-5 years, fitness is our main priority and that’s why we rested him, ” said Paine after winning the toss.

English skipper Joe Root said: “We were looking to bowl first as well. Very good surface, get through that early phase and hopefully get a big score. Might be a good toss to lose, and it still won’t change our approach and we are looking to put up a big first innings score.”

Here are the Playing XIs of both the teams:

Australia: Cameron Bancroft, David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Matthew Wade, Tim Paine (wicketkeeper/captain), Pat Cummins, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

England: Rory Burns, Jason Roy, Joe Root(c), Joe Denly, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Chris Woakes, Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad, Jack Leach