Wednesday 29 July 2015 06:45, UK
England should be relishing the prospect of bowling on Edgbaston's grassy surface in the third Test, says Nasser Hussain.
Pacemen Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood and Ben Stokes all struggled at Lord's in unfriendly flat wicket conditions as Australia's bowlers battered the hosts to level the series at 1-1 and set up Birmingham's showdown, which starts on Wednesday.
Head coach Trevor Bayliss appeared unhappy with the unresponsive pitch, while Alastair Cook has expressed his desire for more traditional 'English' wickets with more green boosting the seam bowlers.
It seems the England skipper has got his wish and Hussain told Sky Sports News HQ: "We don’t want the opposite of Lord’s. You don’t want to make it too toss-dependent, bowling wise. At Lord’s it was win toss, bat, win the game.
"You don’t want it to be win toss, bowl and win the game. Some grass will be taken off but I don’t think Broad and Anderson will be too upset when they turn up at nine in the morning.
"It shouldn’t be a talking point because it will be the same for both sides. It’s not a defining moment or aspect of this Test match but England wanted grass and they definitely have grass on it.
"There have been showers all morning and afternoon (on Tuesday) with the covers coming on and off. That’s kept the grass live and on Wednesday morning the groundsmen will do pretty much whatever England will want."
A late decision will be made on Mark Wood's inclusion based on his fitness with Steven Finn favourite to return to the team if required.
If Wood fails to come through, Hussain believes it would be a loss for the hosts, but backed Finn to shine because of the weather and playing surface.
The former England skipper and now Sky Sports cricket expert added: "When Wood's played, he's done well but he's struggled to cope physically and emotionally with back-to-back Tests and the intensity of an Ashes series.
"He's been a very good cricketer and bowled really well and got some useful runs, but so has Finn. These conditions may well suit Finn. If it was dry and it was a belting hot summer then I would like Wood in the side because of his reverse swing.
"Look at 2005 and what Andrew Flintoff did. Looking at the wet conditions this week it probably won't reverse that much."
Hussain was excited about Jonny Bairstow's selection although warned scoring in county games was completely different to the Test stage. He also believed there was pressure on Ian Bell to perform after his promotion to No 3.
"It's not his last chance," Hussain stated. "If you are moved to No 3 you have to have a couple of Tests you'd hope, but this is a career defining moment.
"His record though is phenomenal. He will always go down as a very fine player and the way he bats is very pleasing on the eye but the next three or four weeks will decide if he goes down as a great player for England.
"If he can move to No 3 and get a hundred and be the first Warwickshire boy to get a century on his home ground and win the Ashes for England then that will be a career defining moment. He's got the game for it, but at the moment he's struggling for form and nick."
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