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England and Pakistan will renew their rivalry in the second Test of the three-match series at Lord’s, starting on August 27. The hosts will enter the contest with a 1-0 lead after securing a commanding innings-and-103-run victory in the opening Test at Headingley. Pakistan, meanwhile, will be desperate for a strong response to keep the series alive.
While England’s bowlers dominated the first Test, their batters also laid the foundation for the comprehensive victory. Harry Brook, Joe Root, Jordan Cox and Dan Lawrence all scored half-centuries as England amassed a substantial first-innings total. Brook’s 91 off 93 balls was particularly impressive, highlighting his ability to combine aggression with greater control.
Pakistan are expected to receive a major boost with the potential return of Babar Azam. The star batter missed the Headingley Test with a finger injury but has reportedly made good progress in training and faced both pace and spin without significant discomfort.
With plenty of batting quality on both sides, here are the top three batters to watch out for in the second Test between England and Pakistan.
The biggest batting attraction at Lord’s could be Babar Azam.
Babar missed the opening Test after his finger injury ruled him out of the series opener, and Pakistan’s batting struggled badly in his absence. The visitors were dismissed for 171 in their first innings before being bowled out for just 135 in the second, losing the match inside three days. His potential return therefore comes at a crucial time.
Babar’s presence brings not only experience but also the ability to occupy the crease for long periods. He was Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in their preceding Test series against the West Indies, accumulating 193 runs, including two half-centuries.
The conditions at Lord’s could present another stern examination. England’s seamers Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue were outstanding in Leeds, constantly challenging Pakistan’s batters with movement and bounce. Babar will need to be particularly watchful outside the off stump during his initial period at the crease.
However, if he gets through England’s opening spell, Pakistan will have one of the best batters in the world capable of taking the game away from the hosts. His leadership will also be important, as Pakistan need both their batting and confidence to improve significantly.
Harry Brook was arguably England’s most impressive batter in the first Test and will enter the Lord’s encounter with plenty of confidence.
The Yorkshire batter narrowly missed out on a century at Headingley, scoring a superb 91 off 93 deliveries. His innings came at an important stage, with England looking to establish a substantial lead after Pakistan were bowled out for 171.
What made Brook’s knock particularly encouraging was his control. While he retained his natural attacking instincts, he was also willing to build his innings and wait for scoring opportunities.
Pakistan will have to come up with a much better plan against him at Lord’s. Their bowling attack struggled to maintain pressure during England’s first innings, allowing Brook, Root and Lawrence to build a sizeable advantage.
Brook is also likely to be motivated by his near miss at Headingley. Having reached 91, he will be determined to convert another strong start into three figures.
His ability to score quickly means Pakistan cannot afford to give him width or loose deliveries. If Brook survives the early phase, England could once again find themselves in a dominant position.
Joe Root completes the list, and the England captain has already made an excellent start to his second stint as Test skipper.
Root scored 66 in the opening Test and played an important role in England’s commanding batting performance. He also impressed with his captaincy, using his bowlers intelligently and setting attacking fields as England secured victory inside three days.
At No. 4, Root will be one of Pakistan’s biggest concerns.
The veteran right-hander has immense experience of batting in English conditions, and Lord’s is a venue where his ability to play late and accumulate runs could prove valuable. Pakistan’s bowlers will need to find a way to prevent him from settling into his trademark rhythm.
Root’s importance becomes even greater considering England’s current transition. With Ben Stokes retired from Test cricket and Root back as captain, the former skipper has taken on additional responsibility within the batting unit. His experience provides stability around younger players such as Jordan Cox and Harry Brook.
Another substantial score from Root would further underline the excellent start to his captaincy comeback.
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