Ashes 2019: Former England captain Ray Illingworth to ring Lord’s bell on Day 1
An honorary life member of MCC, Illingworth will ring the bell situated outside the Bowlers’ Bar in the Pavilion at the Home of Cricket. @ AFP[/caption] Former England captain Ray Illingworth will ring the iconic Lord’s bell to signal five minutes before the start of play on Day 1 of the second Ashes 2019 Test, informed the Lord’s website on Tuesday. Illingworth led England win the Ashes in the seven-match series of 1970-71 and retained the urn at home in 1972. An honorary life member of MCC, Illingworth will ring the bell situated outside the Bowlers’ Bar in the Pavilion at the Home of Cricket. The 87-year-old great made his first-class debut for Yorkshire 68 years ago and scored more than 24,000 runs pocketing 2,000 wickets in an illustrious career spanning 33 seasons. READ: Very excited to see Archer at the start of his journey: Root He captained England in nine Test series, winning six of them. During the tour of Australia in 1970-71, he also captained England in their first ever One-Day International. He has played 61 Tests and has his named on both the batting and bowling Honours Boards at Lord’s, with 6 for 29 against India in 1967 followed by 113 against West Indies two years later. He was named one of Wisden’s Cricketers of the Year in 1960. Illingworth was later chairman of selectors, and England coach. Meanwhile, England are set to field revamped attack featuring fast bowler Jofra Archer as they try to finally get Australia‘s batting star Steve Smith out cheaply and level the Ashes in the second Test at Lord’s. Holders Australia, bidding to win their first away Ashes series for 18 years, humbled England last time out thanks in large part to Smith, who returned to this level following a 12-month ban for his involvement in a ball-tampering scandal with two centuries as they cruised to a 251-run first Test win at Edgbaston.