The highly anticipated second Test of the Ashes 2023 is just around the corner, with Australia and England set to clash at Lord’s Ground in London on Wednesday, June 28. Both teams have had a seven-day break between the matches to recharge and engage in activities off the field. During this period, star English seamer James Anderson and Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon made their presence felt at a Major League Baseball (MLB) game held at the London Stadium on Saturday, June 24.
Anderson and Lyon had the honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch to kickstart the 2023 MLB London Series, which featured a game between the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals. Anderson sported the colors of the Chicago Cubs, while Lyon donned the jersey of the St. Louis Cardinals. Interestingly, fans drew comparisons between Anderson’s throw and that of MMA legend Conor McGregor, who threw the first pitch at a Cubs’ home game against the Minnesota Twins in 2021, with Anderson’s throw being deemed superior.
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Looking back at Australia’s thrilling two-wicket victory in the first Ashes Test, Lyon expressed that it was one of the best Test matches he has ever played. Notably, Lyon (16*) played a crucial role in guiding Australia to victory by forging an unbeaten 55-run partnership with captain Pat Cummins (44*) when the team was struggling at 227/8 while chasing a target of 281.
Who had the better ceremonial first pitch?
🏴 Jimmy Anderson
🇦🇺 Nathan Lyon#LondonSeries | @jimmy9 @englandcricket | @NathLyon421 @CricketAus pic.twitter.com/mPgf4Nx8sa— MLB Europe (@MLBEurope) June 24, 2023
Speaking about the first Test win, Lyon mentioned in a recent interview that although it was a special victory for him and the team, there is still a lot of preparation required before facing England at the iconic Lord’s Ground.
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Lyon performed admirably with the ball, taking figures of 4/149 and 4/80 in the two innings respectively. On the other hand, Anderson could only manage one wicket during the first Test, recording figures of 1/109 in 38 overs across both innings. The seasoned seamer will be eager to bounce back strongly in the second game as England aims to level the series after falling behind 0-1.
As the cricketing world eagerly awaits the second Test, all eyes will be on these two stalwarts as they aim to contribute significantly to their respective teams’ success in the historic Ashes series.
