"Use Joe Root As...": England Legend Offers Interesting Advice For Ashes

Nasser Hussain believes England should replace Moeen Ali with either speedster Mark Wood or Chris Woakes, who has had fantastic success at Lord's thus far and is also a useful hitter later down the order. The second Ashes Test between Australia and England begins at Lord's on Wednesday. England ended up on the losing side in the first Test match at Edgbaston and lost narrowly by two wickets. If England are willing to rely on Joe Root's effective part-time spin, speedster Mark Wood and Lord's specialist Chris Woakes appear to be the likely replacements for Moeen.

Hussain was quick to select Wood as the next man up, and the express-pace bowler has a solid record against Australia, having been England's main wicket-taker in their previous meeting in 2021/22.

Woakes last played a Test in March 2022, so he has missed England's comeback under captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum, but he has a remarkable record in five Lord's Tests.

At the venue, the 34-year-old all-rounder has 27 wickets at an average of 11.33, while also hitting 306 runs at an average of 61.2.

"He (Wood) would probably have to come in for Moeen and use Joe Root as your spinner, so go down the four seamers route, or Chris Woakes. Chris Woakes has got a fantastic record at Lord's, and that would increase the batting as well, another all-rounder in there. So either Woakes or Wood for Moeen Ali," ICC quoted Hussain as saying.

England head into the Lord's Test trailing 1-0 after their dramatic two-wicket loss in the Ashes series opener.

The hosts have enjoyed a stunning 12 months with 11 victories in their 14 Tests under Stokes' leadership, yet their captain raised eyebrows after the first Ashes Test when stating that "we are not a results-driven