Ashes Q&A: Join Ben Horne to chat through all the big issues heading into the second test

We are hours away from one of the most anticipated Ashes test matches of all time. Join our cricket experts for a last-minute live chat today. Ask your questions now.

We are hours away from one of the most anticipated Ashes test matches of all time.

What can we expect from the Lord’s pitch?

Will there any be late selection surprises?

What can we expect to see from Bazball now that England is behind in the series?

News Corp cricket expert Ben Horne will be on hand to answer all your last-minute Ashes question from 12pm AEST.

Ask your question now in the chat below.

Join our LIVE Ashes Q&A with Ben Horne from 12pm on Wednesday. Send you questions in below!

VAUGHAN SERVES SLOPPY ENGLAND FOR CRUISY ASHES PREP

Michael Vaughan has chipped England for preparing for the Ashes by playing golf, as they contemplate unleashing a four-pronged pace attack on Australia at Lord’s.

It’s part of the Bazball mentality where bonding over beers and playing golf is preferable to old fashioned work in the nets.

This masthead’s Ashes correspondent Daniel Cherny told the CODE Sports Ashes preview that it’s noticeable how little preparation England want to commit to.

England great Vaughan said on the Ashes preview currently on Fox Cricket 501 that it backfired in the first Test, with England’s lack of preparation contributing to their sloppy work in the field which ultimately proved costly.

“The reason why they lost I don’t think was because of the declaration, but I do think it was because they were lacking sharpness in the field,” Vaughan told Fox Cricket on the preview show that will air again on Tuesday night.

“They dropped too many chances. You look at the no balls. Australia bowled four no balls, England bowled 24.

“England opted to practice for the Ashes by playing golf for a week. I’d have loved to have seen them play at least two days of cricket leading into a big Ashes series.

“But they’ve opted for that relaxed approach. And it kind of showed in the field.”

Australia captain Pat Cummins and counterpart Ben Stokes at the end of a thrilling first Test. Picture: Geoff Caddick/AFP

But Vaughan says England will continue to do things their way, including a prediction that the Bazball brains’ trust will replace spinner Moeen Ali with firebrand quick Mark Wood at Lord’s in a bid to blast Australia with four pace bowlers on what looks a greenish deck.

The bold plan would leave part-timer Joe Root to carry the spin overs for England.

Vaughan warned England the Ashes is all about winning and that there are no prizes for playing entertaining cricket but going down 2-0 in the series.

“I get the feeling they might just throw Mark Wood in for Moeen Ali and go all pace,” Vaughan told Fox Cricket’s preview.

“Every time England bowled seam at Australia at Edgbaston, even on a flat one, they were controlling the game. Australia never went away from them. It was only when the spin came on that the scoreboard started to motor on.

“Mark Wood is just that point of difference bowler.”

Vaughan predicted Lord’s will have more juice in the surface for the bowlers than the benign pitch in Edgbaston which 40-year-old James Anderson complained would end his career if repeated through the rest of the series.

There is talk out of the Australian camp that left-armer Mitchell Starc might come in for Scott Boland, but Vaughan said that would be an error if the pitch looks like facilitating lateral movement.

Mitchell Starc is in contention for the second Test. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

England need lateral movement. Australia haven’t won here since 2001 and it’s because the ball has moved around and we’ve got high class skill, seam bowlers,” Vaughan said.

“Look at Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad, and Australia’s favourite, Ollie Robinson. When they get lateral movement they’re very, very difficult to face.

“I hear a whisper Mitchell Starc might come in because of the way England play Scott Boland. If there’s lateral movement and it looks like it’s going to do anything, I think they have to play Boland once again and go with the same team.

“They should have used Starc at Edgbaston because it was flat.”

Australian Test great Mark Waugh also told the Fox Cricket Ashes preview that Boland should be retained if there’s movement on offer for the seamers.

“He’s the perfect bowler for Lord’s because if you hit a line and length, the natural variation makes you dangerous,” Waugh said.

“It’ll be a tough call.”

Originally published as Ashes Q&A: Join Ben Horne to chat through all the big issues heading into the second test