Clash of openers Alastair Cook and Murali Vijay among the key battles at Lord's

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  • England and India clash in the second Test of the five-match series at Lord’s on Thursday, with the hosts carrying a 1-0 lead into the contest following the opening thriller at Edgbaston.

    Here, we take a look at the key battles that could go a long way to deciding the outcome of the Test at the Home of Cricket.

    Get in touch with your thoughts via Twitter and Facebook.

    The Openers

    Alastair Cook v Murali Vijay

    India's Murali Vijay attends a practice session at Lord's Cricket Ground in London on August 7, 2018 ahead of the second Test cricket match between England and India. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. NO ASSOCIATION WITH DIRECT COMPETITOR OF SPONSOR, PARTNER, OR SUPPLIER OF THE ECB (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images)

    In need of runs: Murali Vijay.

    The England opening batsman is getting ready to play in his 26th Lord’s Test and has scored more centuries, four, at the famous old ground then at any other venue during the course of his career. But, after being on the receiving end of two Ravi Ashwin dismissals in the first Test, all eyes will be on the 33-year-old to see if he can get back in the runs after what has been a barren spell – aside from his double ton (on a flat track it has to be said) at Melbourne during the Ashes. Alongside Joe Root, Cook needs to lead from the front and could also do with partner Keaton Jennings scoring big.

    His opposite number, Vijay, has crossed fifty just once in his last 10 Tests (105 against Afghanistan in June) and looks to be running on borrowed time. He doesn’t appear horrendously out of nick but the runs aren’t coming. There is no doubt he will be working on his alignment at the crease in the build-up to the second Test. Curran and Stuart Broad trapped him lbw in each innings in the Midlands, suggesting the 34-year-old is too deep in his crease and falling away a bit to the off-side as he tries to reduce his chances of nicking off.

    The Jack of All Trades

    Sam Curran v Hardik Pandya

    Sam Curran is playing an important hand for England with the bat.

    Star turn: Sam Curran changed the game in the first Test.

    If it wasn’t for the 20-year-old Englishman’s bludgeoning 65-ball 63 in the second innings at Edgbaston, the hosts would have almost certainly been 1-0 down. His 102-minute stay altered the course of the game and gave England more than a fighting chance. India’s chase of 194 was a lot tougher than a target of around 130.

    With Ben Stokes absent here and the Lord’s crowd certain to be delighted about the prospect of seeing the all-rounder in action, he has the chance to make the stage his own. Clearly, like his late father Kevin and brother Tom, he is a gutsy cricketer who relishes the big occasion and could prove to be a handful again with his medium pace and off-cutters, prime to upset batsmen’s rhythm on a one-paced Lord’s wicket.

    On paper, Curran is a bowler who bats a bit but it is eventually thought his skills with the willow will become his premier trade. Indeed, that is the opinion of his Surrey mentor Alec Stewart.

    While Curran had a Test to remember, Pandya had one to forget. The Indian all-rounder failed to take a wicket in the first innings and didn’t bowl in the second, while he got starts (22 and 31) in both of his knocks but showed his vulnerability outside off-stump, being dismissed by Curran and Stokes. In fairness, he occupied the crease well alongside Kohli as India battled to try and win the game on day four, playing two excellent, flowing drives to remind us all of his natural talent.

    Fans of the Men in Blue will be craving more of that flair on a consistent basis from the 24-year-old, who has the potential to steal the show if it all comes together.

    The pace battery

    Stuart Broad v Ishant Sharma

    England's Stuart Broad (R) and Moeen Ali attends training session at Lord's Cricket Ground in London on August 7, 2018 ahead of the second Test cricket match between England and India. (Photo by BEN STANSALL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. NO ASSOCIATION WITH DIRECT COMPETITOR OF SPONSOR, PARTNER, OR SUPPLIER OF THE ECB (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images)

    Needs to make a greater impact: Stuart Broad.

    In an attack minus the X Factor of Stokes, England will need their second most senior bowler, behind James Anderson, to hit his straps consistently. His double-wicket second innings opening burst, dismissing Indian opening duo Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan at Edgbaston, was the result of on the money line and length bowling.

    Aside from that, Broad – who is known for his ability to change the course of a game with a clutch of wickets – appeared to be struggling for rhythm again, especially in the first innings where he failed to claim a wicket and was comfortably out-shone by young Curran and Stokes’ game-changing brilliance. He needs to up the ante.

    On the other hand, Ishant has certainly benefited from his county stint with Sussex over the English summer and performed admirably in Birmingham where he blew away England’s powerful middle-order to help set up the game of the batters. That India’s batsmen didn’t finish the job meant his five-for went unrewarded but he seems in a rich vein of form. The 29-year-old will need to extract pace early on at Lord’s before the wicket typically flattens out. By his own admission, he needs to figure out exactly what his role in the bowling attack is. Is he a strike bowler or workhorse?

    Ishant had picked up 5-51 in the second innings at Edgbaston.

    Ishant had picked up 5-51 in the second innings at Edgbaston.

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