England seek redemption as Adelaide plays host to the dance of two primed rivals

After a humiliating affair for England at the Gabba that has been one of Australia’s primary slaughterhouses for any visiting team, the party moves to Adelaide Oval that will stay witness to the solitary Day and Night Test of the series.

More than a contest for spoils, England will have their pride at stake as Australia toyed with them in the opening match of the series. Pat Cummins r came up trumps over the mighty English batting in the first innings to shape the fortunes of the game.

Australia posted an all-round display with the solitary shard of English resistance coming from Joe Root and Dawid Malan in the second innings of the match.

Pat Cummins claimed an emphatic fifer in the first innings to restrict England to a paltry 147 while Australia rode on Travis Head’s emphatic 150 and Warner’s 94 to pile up a monumental 425 in the opening innings.

The second innings didn’t really bring out the best in the visitors despite their captain catching a whiff of his lost form with an excellent 89. The second innings saw Nathan Lyon taking over the mantle, as he claimed four crucial scalps.

England will be eyeing revenge as two of their main bowlers - James Anderson and Stuart Broad - are primed to return to the playing eleven.

The English batters will have to work their way around the maze of some devastating movement that can wreak havoc for them. Joe Root’s fine knock in the second innings of the opening Test will be instilling hopes in the English fans.

The return of James Anderson will be crucial to the English side as the pink ball can do funny things under light.

Team news:

Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the second rubber with a side-strain injury. He will be replaced most likely by Jhye Richardson. It is unlikely that there will be any further changes to the side.

They will be banking heavily upon their swing expert, Mitchell Starc to torment the visitors while Pat Cummins will be hoping to continue with his form against the English batters. Nathan Lyon will also be an imperative customer to watch out for, given his ability to weave mystery and magic.

After the chaotic defeat at Gabba, England will be hoping for their primary all-rounder, Ben Stokes to make amends.

Ollie Robinson may be sacrificed to bring Broad back to the side while Mark Wood may have to pave way for Jimmy Anderson.

The rest of the side will be more or less the same for both England and Australia as the two lock horns at Adelaide, with one aiming to equalise and reinstate their pride while the other sniffing blood.

Match details:

Australia vs England, (Ashes, 2nd Test) 

Venue: Oval, Adelaide

Date: December 16-20, 2021 

Time: 9:30 AM IST

Head-to-head:

Matches: 352

Australia: 147

England: 110

Draws: 95

Stats:

Australia are yet to taste defeat in a day-night Test as they have won all eight of their pink-ball contests so far. They have brushed aside challenges from New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, England, Sri Lanka and India.

Surprisingly, the highest victory margin registered at Adelaide in a Test match was by England back in 1892 where they triumphed over the hosts by an innings and 230 runs.

Nathan Lyon will be coming to this Test match with a chance of becoming the highest wicket-taker at Adelaide as he is just 5 wickets adrift of the feat while 6 will make him the king. Emperor of leg-spin, Shane Warne currently sits on the throne with 56 next to his name.

The last time England paid a visit to Adelaide, they were floored by a soaring Australia. However, the returning James Anderson stung them in the second innings with a scorching fifer to briefly instil hopes in England.

Squads:

Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith (vc), Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner.

England: Joe Root (c), Jos Buttler (vc, wk), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Zak Crawley, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.