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London: Australia will draw inspiration from their performance in the first Ashes Test against England and their outstanding overall record at Lord’s for the second Test starting on Thursday.
Only an heroic last wicket stand between James Anderson and Monty Panesar in Cardiff denied Australia victory in a game in which they were the superior team in all departments of the game.
They have also not lost a Test against England at Lord’s since 1934 when Yorkshire left-arm spinner Hedley Verity dismissed Don Bradman cheaply in both innings in a match haul of 15 wickets. "There is a great feel around the place, and all the history, and the very proud record that Australia have had here for so long makes you feel good about the place when you arrive," Australia captain Ricky Ponting said on Tuesday.
"Already the guys were talking about our record here in the team meeting and how much everyone has been looking forward to playing here, and what it means to a lot of our younger guys in particular to play here."
Australia will take particular encouragement from the form of their Ashes debutants Marcus North, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle in Cardiff.
North scored his second century in three Tests, off-spinner Hauritz outbowled England’s Graeme Swann and Panesar and pacemen Hilfenhaus and Siddle more than compensated for Mitchell Johnson’s indifferent form.
All the problems now seem to be in the England camp where Andrew Flintoff is yet again an injury doubt.
Steve Harmison has been called up as cover but the Durham fast bowler may play anyway after his outstanding recent county form.
"You pick the best 11 players to win you a Test match," said captain Andrew Strauss. "We’ve got to decide what our best bowling attack is for this particular wicket."
Strauss conceded England had under-performed in Cardiff. "We had some good passages of play in that Test match but not enough of them and we gave them opportunities when we shouldn’t have done."
