‘The buzz tells you the place is special’

and that is what was able to do.

Sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say it took one of the best players in the world to play out of his skin to get them into a position from where they could go on and win the match, but that doesn’t happen all the time.

There is no anxiety about being 1-0 down this week because we know we can turn them over. We know they are beatable and we know how to play against them. The night before the first day felt like the night before the first World Cup game. There were a few nerves Steve Smith around and a lot of anticipation for what was to come.

That is all normal and understandable but we’ve got through that now and we’re into the series and we will be better for it.

You’re going to be down when you don’t win games. Losing is the worst feeling in sport but it is a new game and you can’t take the result of the last match into this one. You have to start again and this is our chance to strike back.

Losing Jimmy Anderson inside the first hour of the game wasn’t ideal, and he felt pretty bad about it, but these things happen and no-one felt that way about Jimmy – he has given so much to the team and we hope to have him back soon.

We could have Jofra Archer making his debut today though, and it would be another step forward for him in the game. But we can’t expect too much of him.

Test cricket is the pinnacle of the sport and it is the hardest form of the game so there are no guarantees for anyone, including Jofra.

We’re just expecting him to run in hard and show that same aggression and skill that he did in theWorld Cup. Jack Leach and Jofra Archer appear puzzled as they pick up the Dukes ball team and just because we get to play here each summer doesn’t make it any less special when you come through the gates.

“It gets me going every time I play here because it is a grand stage on which to perform. This is where you want to play your best cricket.

“There is a buzz about the place that tells you it is special and that all eyes are on you.That’s the case even more for an Ashes Test.

“Obviously all the visiting teams want to come and play here, and at the end of their careers players like to say, ‘I did this at Lord’s and I did that at Lord’s’.

“There is a lot of history and tradition here which is a huge part of the game and makes it such a special place to play.

“When you walk into the dressing rooms the honours boards tell you all about that history and who managed to have their moment in the sun out in the middle.

“There have been some incredible moments for England teams at this ground over the years and it was great to have played in one or two myself.

“But what’s gone is gone and it is time to produce the goods again this week.”