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The second Test match between the England National Cricket Team and the Pakistan National Cricket Team has already begun at the Lord’s Cricket Ground, London. Pakistan captain Babar Azam has returned to the side after missing out on the first Test. The surprising call came as, in the first match, the stand-in captain Salman Ali Agha was dropped.
Pakistan lost the first Test match at Headingley, Leeds, by an innings and 103 runs. The batters crumbled in the swinging conditions and failed to even bat for 90 overs, combining both innings. Salman Ali Agha was the captain of the side in the first Test match, as Babar also failed to have an impact in the first game.
Salman Ali Agha dropped as Babar Azam returns
Babar Azam won the toss and opted to bowl first in the match, as they made just one change, with the captain coming back into the side for the previous match's stand-in captain, Salman Ali Agha. This is a shocking call, as Salman Ali Agha was the captain for the side and was dropped the very next game.
At the toss, Babar said, (as quoted by Cricbuzz), “We will bowl first because of overcast conditions and grass on the pitch, so we are utilising that things. One change, Salman Ali Agha is not playing, I'm playing. (On their performance at Headingley?) Yeah, we are not to the mark in the batting, and we discuss our mistakes. So we come back here and we discuss that things.”
“So we try to do our best in this match. (On whether there's any pain in the finger?) No, I just getting 90% yes. Now I'm 100% that I'm here. So yes, I'm good to go. (On having a good record at Lord's) Yeah, always it's an honour to play in Lord's, and special for me as a captain. So we try to do our best to perform well.”
Pakistan bowlers dismantle English openers
The toss was delayed due to rain, and it happened an hour later; Day 1 was revised to 85 overs as the match started at 4:50 PM IST. The Three Lions did not make any changes from their thumping win in the first game. Joe Root made history as he surpassed Stuart Broad and joined Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh on 168 Test appearances.
After being invited to bat first, England had a horrible start as they lost both their openers, Emilio Gay and Ben Duckett, early in the innings. They are 26/2 as Babar’s side have started on the front foot after their poor display at Leeds. The Men in Green bowlers will be looking to bowl out the English batters as early as possible.
England vs Pakistan Playing XIs:
Pakistan (Playing XI): Imam-ul-Haq, Azan Awais, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood, Babar Azam(c), Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan(w), Ali Usman, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali
England (Playing XI): Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jordan Cox, Joe Root(c), Harry Brook, Dan Lawrence, Jamie Smith(w), Ollie Robinson, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue
