Pakistan will look to level the three-match Test series against England at Lord’s after suffering an innings-and-103-run defeat in the opener at Headingley.
LONDON: Pakistan and England resume their Test rivalry at Lord’s on Thursday, with the visitors facing a must-win second Test after England secured a dominant victory in the series opener.
England lead the three-match series 1-0 after beating Pakistan by an innings and 103 runs at Headingley. The second Test runs from Aug. 27-31, while the third and final match is scheduled for Sept. 9-13 at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
Pakistan’s preparations have focused heavily on preventing another batting collapse. The team was dismissed for 171 in its first innings and 135 in the second at Leeds, leaving England with a 238-run first-innings advantage.
Captain Babar Azam is set to return after missing the opening Test with a hand injury. Babar said he was about 90% fit after completing practice sessions and is expected to lead Pakistan at Lord’s.
Babar acknowledged that Pakistan had identified several mistakes from the first Test, particularly the loss of wickets in clusters. He stressed the need for senior batters to convert starts into substantial scores and said responsibility must be shared across the batting unit.
“We need to learn from those mistakes,” Babar said, while emphasising the importance of avoiding back-to-back dismissals and building stronger partnerships.
His return provides Pakistan with a significant boost. Babar averages 65.75 in Tests in England and 53.83 against England across 14 innings, according to the International Cricket Council.
Lord’s also offers encouraging memories for Pakistan. The visitors won their previous two Tests against England at the venue, in 2016 and 2018, and have recorded five Test victories at Lord’s overall.
England, meanwhile, enter the match with confidence after their emphatic Headingley performance. Joe Root, who has returned as England’s Test captain, will lead a side that can secure the series with another victory.
For Pakistan, the equation is straightforward: defeat at Lord’s would give England an unassailable 2-0 lead, while victory would level the series and set up a decisive final Test in Birmingham.
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