Memories of Lord's remain raw for England and Australia

NICK HOWSON AT HEADINGLEY: Steve Smith's haunting blow occurred less than a week ago yet the Ashes rivals go head-to-head again with the series very much on the line

Some grounds have let go, or at least, have had time too. World Cup paraphernalia continues to adorn the darker corners of some of the 11 grounds used for the six-week tournament. Others meanwhile have stowed away banners and emblems out of sight, but certainly not out of mind.

Arriving at Headingley, you would be forgiven for thinking the World Cup was merely just a good idea; a rumour you heard on Twitter or in the launderette. The ground has been put through the ECB screenwash, and come out the other side primed for Test cricket.

As it would happen, as the series heads to Leeds after England's fire was reignited at Lord's - the scene of that afternoon against New Zealand - drawing on World Cup memories will be far from their mind.

It was at the home of Yorkshire CC where the world champions suffered their most harrowing loss of the summer, losing to little-fancied Sri Lanka by 20 runs to leave hopes of a maiden triumph in the competition in tatters.

On that occasion, Eoin Morgan's men had a safety net. But no such buffer exists on this occasion for Joe Root - a win for Australia assures they will depart England as Ashes holders, leaving the final two Tests in a virtual abyss in September.

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Headingley is a kill or be killed venue. Just one of the last 19 Tests have ended in a draw. The Baggy Green won the last time the Ashes came to West Yorkshire, in 2009. With the weather set fair, a result is a near-certainty.

The year of the last stalemate between England and Australia at Headingley in 1975 is probably the last time either team possessed an attack with the ferociousness of the current crop. 

The start 1974-85 series Down Under was dominated by intimidatory tactics from both bowling tandems. England's Peter Lever and Bob Willis had served notice of their intentions in a tour match against Queensland, but matching Jeff Thomson and Dennis Lillee would be an altogether different challenge.

^{Steve Smith will have a watching brief at Leeds this week}

Thomson was something of an unknown and his selection for the opening Test at Brisbane was a slight surprise, with his last outing having come nearly two years previous. But England were under no illusion as to the prospect of facing the pair, particularly when the Sydney native said: "I enjoy hitting a batsman more than getting him out."

Despite such a bold threat, Tony Grieg was not one to back down from the sternest of warnings. Able to generate significant licks himself, Grieg unleashed a bouncer of his own in the Australia first innings which as Lillee attempted to duck out of the way of, he gloved behind.

That torpedo galvanised an already snarly Australia attack. Though Grieg showed resolve in hitting 110 first time around, Lillee and Thomson combined to take 13 of England's 20 wickets as the hosts strolled to victory by 166 runs.

In the current climate, any comments comparable to Thomson's from either team would be treated with utter contempt, and approach misconduct. Steve Smith's injury and the increasing scrutiny over concussions and head injuries means aggressive, intense fast bowling has quickly become the clutch topic of this series. Despite what followed the blow suffered by Smith, don't be surprised if both sides tip-toe into this all-important third Test.

^{Jofra Archer continues to cut a relaxed figure}

It would not be wrong to draw attention to how both groups react to the harrowing scenes at the home of cricket, the conversation behind the inadequate response to the strike and the subsequent blows suffered by the likes of Jason Roy and Marnus Labuschagne in the nets. The episode is remarkably - even for the crammed international cricket schedule - raw.

Jofra Archer has encountered many challenges during his three-and-a-half-month England career, but perhaps responding from being the man who unwittingly inflicted injury on an opponent might be his toughest yet. "Confused and upset" was how Sean Abbott described his mental state after hitting Phil Hughes in 2014 and while the circumstances are somewhat different, it does not ignore the effect such an incident could have on a young player.

But just like World Cup memories at Headingley, both England and Australia will be hoping for an altogether different narrative.

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