The Ashes: 5 Things We Learned From The Second Test

2. Adam Lyth Should Have Been Tried Out In The Caribbean

England batsman James Anderson shows his dejection as he shakes hands with Australia man of the match Steve Smith (right) after Australia win the 2nd test, during day four of the Second Investec Ashes Test at Lord's, London.
John Walton/PA Wire

England's opening woes have continued in this series, with no opening stand of any size being put together. Alastair Cook obviously isn't going to be dropped (and after his 96 in the first innings, he's in the team on form), so will Adam Lyth go? After trying Nick Compton, Sam Robson, Joe Root, Michael Carberry and Jonathan Trott since Andrew Strauss retired, someone needs to be given the opening spot and given it for a decent amount of time. A high run scorer in championship cricket over the last few years, Lyth is that man.

Which makes it all the more baffling that he wasn't introduced to the test arena during England's tour of the Caribbean this past April. He was a part of the squad, but an unused member as Jonathan Trott was re-introduced to the side out of position as an opener. Trott's return to international level was an impressive mental achievement for him, this goes without saying. It smacked of sentimentality however, and poor forward planning. Lyth was left to make his debut against New Zealand at the beginning of the English summer, and one century aside it has been a struggle. What does anyone expect when facing the two of the top three bowling attacks in world cricket right now? Lyth averages 25.00 exactly after four tests, and many may start calling for his head. There isn't a better option in the domestic game at the moment however, and Lyth deserves a run for his run scoring for Yorkshire over the years.

 By not giving Lyth his debut against the objectively weaker West Indies attach, the English selectors left themselves a little handicapped not just for the Ashes, but for the test arena going forward.

Contributor
Contributor

Born in the middle of Wales in the middle of the 1980's, John can't quite remember when he started watching wrestling but he has a terrible feeling that Dino Bravo was involved. Now living in Prague, John spends most of his time trying to work out how Tomohiro Ishii still stands upright. His favourite wrestler of all time is Dean Malenko, but really it is Repo Man. He is the author of 'An Illustrated History of Slavic Misery', the best book about the Slavic people that you haven't yet read. You can get that and others from www.poshlostbooks.com.