In the first Ashes Test held at Edgbaston, Australia emerged victorious, defeating England by 2 wickets on a flat wicket. Following their defeat, England decided to alter their strategy for the second Ashes Test at Lord’s in London, opting for a green pitch. This change prompted Iceland Cricket to subtly taunt England on Twitter on June 27.
England’s captain, Ben Stokes, had expressed his preference for flat wickets throughout the series before the first test in Birmingham. However, after their loss at Edgbaston, Stokes and the English team management modified their approach.
Over the past year, the English side has adopted an aggressive style of play known as ‘Bazball,’ relying on flat wickets to enable their batsmen to play their shots freely and accumulate substantial scores to put pressure on their opponents.
In response to criticism of the lifeless Edgbaston pitch, the ground staff at Lord’s unveiled a green wicket, which quickly gained attention on social media due to its similarity in color to the outfield. Ireland Cricket took the opportunity to mock England on Twitter, referencing the upcoming Wimbledon tournament and posted a picture of the Lord’s pitch for the second Ashes Test.
The ECB and English team management faced heavy criticism from cricket pundits and fans for their decision. The Edgbaston pitch lacked assistance for the fast bowlers, and James Anderson, an English paceman, expressed his frustration with the flat nature of the wicket.
Somebody needs to tell the Lord's groundstaff that Wimbledon begins on Monday, not tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/xo5Q7k1kEY
— Iceland Cricket (@icelandcricket) June 27, 2023
In his column for ‘The Telegraph,’ Anderson wrote about his struggles, highlighting the absence of swing, reverse swing, seam movement, bounce, and pace. He even likened the pitch to his kryptonite, feeling as though he was engaged in an uphill battle despite his efforts to adapt to any conditions.
