Lord’s wicket is a green monster a day out from second Ashes Test between Australia and England

England appears set to abandon their Bazball hunt for runs on flat decks after just one Ashes Test, if the wicket for the second clash with Australia at Lord’s is anything to go by.

England captain Ben Stokes had called for flat tracks this Ashes series to complement the Bazball approach of scoring runs quickly, boldly declaring and then attacking the opposition.

It failed in the first Test, with the Aussies storming home on the final day for a famous two-wicket win.

Despite his day-one declaration backfiring and the Aussies hitting the winning runs on the dry wicket, Stokes implied that there would be plenty more Bazball to come after the loss.

‘It’s a bit early to say the Ashes are slipping away after one game,’ he said. 

Steve Smith inspects the pitch at Lord’s, which has a very green hue ahead of the second Ashes Test on Wednesday 

The Lord’s track stands in stark contrast to the wicket used at Edgbaston (pictured) after England called for flat decks that were great for batting on

England captain Ben Stokes has come under fire for his decisions in the first Test

‘There are still four games left. Keep following us and we will keep trying to do what we do,’ Stokes continued.

‘I’m sat here as a losing captain, but I couldn’t be more proud of the way we have operated and the effort put in by everyone across the game. 

‘We’ve lost and it’s disappointing but if you look at the way we’ve played over the last five days compared to how the last few Ashes series have gone it proves what we’re capable of doing against Australia.

‘Even though we’re on the wrong end of the result here, it proves we went toe-to-toe throughout the whole game.’

However, the decision appears to have been taken out of his hands with the Lord’s curator serving up a green wicket that will still have plenty for the bowlers after its final mow and roll. 

‘Ben Stokes wanted dry, flat decks for the Ashes. This looks the opposite and doubtful it will be to his wishes come game day even with a good shave,’ one English supporter posted.

‘Lol, so much for ‘won’t be changing our approach’ haha,’ posted another.

Veteran sports reporter Bernie Coen added: ‘Given how England has gone on decks like that in the past with Broad & Anderson I was dumbfounded at the first test pitch. This one might not make 5 days Or is it tamer than it looks?’

The change in wicket will likely result in team changes for both England and Australia, with Mason Wood to make way for Chris Woakes.

That is a curious decision given that Woakes bowls gentle pace while Wood is the fastest bowler England has available.

The wicket is also predicted to take spin later in the match, with England set to bring in 18-year-old leggie Rehan Ahmed.

Meanwhile, Nathan Lyon will be licking his lips with his 500th Test wicket in sight, while the track is right up Mitchell Starc’s alley with his left-arm, express swing bowling suiting the green wicket.

Mitchell Starc prepares in the nets ahead of the second Ashes Test where he is likely to earn a recall to the side

Starc (centre) could replace Scott Boland (right) in the second Test, although a final decision is yet to be made by coach Andrew McDonald

He was not shocked to see the heavy green tinge after inspecting the wicket.  

‘Probably not a surprise after some of the comments from last week and the nature of that [Edgbaston] wicket,’ Starc said.

‘We’ll play on what we’re given in a couple of days’ time.’

The paceman isn’t disappointed after being left out of the first Test, either, saying all of the Aussies had adopted a squad mentality for the series. 

‘I’m used to it now coming to England,’ Starc said in reference to playing just a single game in the 2019 Ashes.

‘It’s a squad mentality, much the same as last time. We’ve got a great set of bowlers not just in this squad but a couple of other guys playing county cricket.

‘It’s a very, very short Ashes crammed into the space of seven weeks. We knew it was going to be hard work for anyone to play all the games. We’ve all taken that approach and will for the rest of the Test matches.’