Aussies hope for quicker wicket at Lord’s

Australia are hoping for a slightly spicier pitch at Lord’s, although Darren Lehmann isn’t holding his breath.

England cruised to a 169-run victory in Cardiff, crushing the tourists on a slow-and-low strip.

Lehmann’s men will attempt to square the series in London, where the second Test starts on Thursday.

From the opening over of the Ashes opener, it was clear how little carry there was in the wicket.

Two of Mitchell Starc’s deliveries bounced twice before reaching keeper Brad Haddin, while Mitchell Johnson had few batsmen ducking and weaving.

Michael Atherton termed it an anti-Johnson pitch.

“I think Lord’s has more pace in it than this one,” Lehmann said.

“You’d hope so (it is a quicker wicket), being the home of cricket.

“I’d just like to see you be able to bowl a bouncer on day one. That’d be nice but that’s ok.”

However, Lehmann expected his charges would encounter more slow seamers throughout the five-Test series.

“We know what we’re going to get in terms of wickets,” he said.

“Everyone talks about (Australia) loving more pace.

“That would be true but we’re not going to get it so there’s no point asking.”

The Lord’s pitch for the opening Test between England and New Zealand earlier this year was widely praised as the perfect wicket, offering something for batsmen and bowlers.

The venue holds particularly bad memories for Johnson, who came unstuck on the slope in 2009.

Johnson terrorised England in the 2013-14 Ashes but managed match figures of 2-180 this week in Cardiff.

Regardless of how docile the deck is in London, Lehmann believes the left-armer can trouble the hosts.

“He got better as the game went on,” Lehmann said.

“He was better in the second innings. The way he got Bell out was quite exciting for us.

“He’s a class bowler. If he gets it right, he can certainly run through sides … he’s travelling ok.”

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