England captain Alastair Cook believes Australia remain favourites to claim the Ashes urn despite England taking a 1-0 lead in Cardiff.
The Three Lions won the first Test by 169 runs and face Australia in the second Test at Lord’s, which begins on Thursday (July 16).
Cook said: “Australia are still probably favourites, they’ve only got to retain, I suppose.
“But series are not played on paper, it’s what people deliver. And it’s always nice to be underdogs isn’t it?”
And with a similar surface expected at Lord’s to what we saw in Cardiff, Cook is expecting an entertaining encounter.
He added: “Normally a Test wicket here is a pretty good wicket. We are in England and I don’t think it will be travelling through like Perth.”
Australia captain Michael Clarke said: “I think it will be a little bit tacky to start and seam around early so it will be difficult to bat on. But it does look like a pretty good wicket. Generally at Lord’s, once the sun comes out, it is a good wicket to bat on.”
