Ricky Ponting admits he is ‘very surprised’ Australia left Scott Boland out of the second Ashes Test against England.
Both sides made one change for the Lord’s contest, with Boland making way for Mitchell Starc and Josh Tongue replacing Moeen Ali.
Australia are aiming to take a commanding lead in the five-match Ashes series after winning the first Test at Edgbaston by two wickets.
‘I’m very surprised they’ve taken out Boland,’ ex-Australia captain Ponting told Sky Sports. ‘This one looks a perfect wicket for Scotty.’
Explaining the change, current Australia skipper Pat Cummins said: ‘Just a bit of variety, we’re really happy with how Scotty [Boland] is going but unfortunately he is the one to miss out this week.
‘We’re excited to have someone of Mitchell Starc’s class back in.’
England captain Ben Stokes won the toss at Lord’s and opted to bowl in overcast conditions.
‘We would have had a bowl as well,’ Cummins added.
‘There are a couple of areas that we could tidy up from last week. Steve [Smith] and Marnus [Labuschagne] are world-class players and it is rare they miss out so I’ve seen how hard they’ve been working out back.’
Nathan Lyon’s inclusion in the Australia side saw him become the first specialist bowler to play 100 consecutive Test matches.
‘It’sfantastic effort, incredible,’ Cummins said. ‘Not only in terms of form and fitness but getting picked in conditions all around the world for 100 Test matches. He’s a special player and I’ve lucky to have him as a captain.’
England, meanwhile, opted to bring in Worcestershire pace bowler Tongue to replace Moeen, who struggled with a finger injury during the Ashes opener.
That leaves Joe Root as England’s only spin-bowling option and Stokes said: ‘I think Rooty’s really enjoying the challenge of changing the game with the ball, he does it with the bat, he’s turning into a genuine all rounder.’
On England’s defeat at Edgbaston, Stokes added: ‘In five days, you can name numerous things we could have done differently. We could have been tidier but it was in that last hour or hour and a half, Australia were on top.’
MORE : England’s Jonny Bairstow carries protester off Lord’s pitch after Ashes disruption
MORE : Ollie Robinson is lucky to be getting a game in the Ashes, says Michael Clarke
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