Australia bat against England in second Ashes Test

London: Australia captain Michael Clarke won the toss and elected to bat against England in the second Ashes Test at Lord´s on Thursday.

Despite the overcast conditions, which threatened to aid swing movement, Clarke decided to bat first on a light brown pitch.

England were unchanged from the side that won the first Test in Cardiff by 169 runs last week to go 1-0 up in the five-match series after off-spinning all-rounder Moeen Ali overcame a slight side strain.

Ashes-holders Australia, looking for their first Test series win in England in 14 years, made two changes.

Wicket-keeper Peter Nevill was given an international debut after first-choice gloveman Brad Haddin withdrew for "family reasons" while Mitchell Marsh earned a fifth Test cap after fellow all-rounder Shane Watson, who in Cardiff twice succumbed to his problem dismissal of lbw -- was dropped.

Teams

England: Alastair Cook (capt), Adam Lyth, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (wkt), Moeen Ali, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, James Anderson

Australia: David Warner, Chris Rogers, Steven Smith, Michael Clarke (capt), Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill (wkt), Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon. (AFP)