England have included Josh Tongue in an all-pace attack on a green-tinged Lord’s pitch for the second Ashes Test against Australia.

“We turned up at Lord’s and saw there was quite a lot of grass on the pitch,” said England captain Ben Stokes.

“We thought we would get more out of our fourth bowler being Josh Tongue.”

Though Moeen, 36, has been able to bowl in the nets this week, there remained a concern that he would be susceptible to a recurrence of the finger injury.

That, the conditions and ongoing management of Stokes’ own persistent left knee problem has led England to pack their pace attack.

Tongue, 25, wins his second cap after making his debut against Ireland on the same ground at the beginning of June.

Stokes admitted England wanted to pick Mark Wood, but felt he was not able to get through a five-day Test having not played any cricket for more than two months. The hope is he will be ready for the third Test at Headingley next week.

“We felt that he could definitely start the game,” said Stokes. “The extra week with build-up and getting his workloads up would give him a better chance and an opportunity to play a full part from Leeds onwards.”

Worcestershire’s Tongue took five wickets in the second innings against the Irish and will join James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson as the frontline bowlers.

“I’m looking forward to seeing Tonguey continue the great start he had against Ireland here,” said Stokes.

“The only thing that’s different for him is the occasion. He’s had his first Test match, his debut game, which he’s had huge success from.

“Coming in and being able to use him in a fourth seamer role is something that I’m very much looking forward to him being able to do and I think he’s really looking forward to the challenge as well.”

Without Moeen, responsibility for spin will fall to Joe Root, who took one wicket with his off-breaks at Edgbaston.

In the second innings, Root actually bowled more overs than Moeen as the Warwickshire man nursed his finger.

Moeen came out of Test retirement to play in the Ashes after regular frontline spinner Jack Leach suffered a stress fracture in his back.

Leach had been ever present in the England team since Stokes took over as captain at the beginning of last summer and this will be the first Test under Stokes that England have not fielded a frontline spinner.

Leach has been at Lord’s this week and spoke to the England squad before training on Tuesday.

“It was a huge loss, losing Leachy for the series,” said Stokes. “He’s been an integral part of everything we’ve been able to achieve until now. The XI that we’ve picked is the XI that we’ve picked and I’ve got to try and make that work.

“Joe’s bowling has gone from strength to strength and the more responsibility I’ve given him with the ball has brought out another side to Joe. It’s great having someone like that who also averages 50 with the bat, that’s always nice.”

Before speaking to the media, Stokes addressed the publication of the report from the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket by reading a prepared statement.

“It is clear there is so much more the game has to do and as players we really want to be a part of that to ensure this is truly a sport for everyone,” Stokes said.

If they are to win the Ashes for the first time in eight years, England must become the first team since 2005 to come from behind to lift the urn.

Australia are expected to include left-arm paceman Mitchell Starc, while off-spinner Nathan Lyon will become only the seventh man in history – and first bowler – to play 100 consecutive Tests.

England XI: Crawley, Duckett, Pope, Root, Brook, Stokes, Bairstow, Broad, Robinson, Tongue, Anderson.