England’s opening batsman Emilio Gay managed to claim a pair of ducks during the second‑day warm‑up for the upcoming Test series in Beckenham, while Pakistan’s skipper Babar Azam endured a brief injury scare that saw him retire hurt after a short cameo. Gay, who had already been dismissed for a golden duck by Mohammad Abbas on the first day while representing a County Select XI against the touring Pakistan side, returned to the crease on Friday only to be caught behind off the bowling of Mohammad Ali, falling for a seven‑ball duck. This second successive zero raised eyebrows, but the Durham‑based batter’s participation was a positive sign after he suffered a shoulder problem earlier in the month during the One‑Day Cup for his county.
His appearance in the warm‑up suggested that the injury was under control and that he should be fit for the first official Test at Headingley, scheduled for next Wednesday and broadcast live on Sky Sports. Babar Azam’s misfortune unfolded when a delivery from the young Hampshire paceman Manny Lumsden struck him on the right hand.
The Pakistan captain, who had been batting at number four, managed only five runs off 17 balls before he was forced to retire hurt. A subsequent statement from the Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed that Babar would miss the remainder of the warm‑up match as a precautionary measure, but that he would join the squad for the practice session in Leeds on Monday. The board emphasized that the injury appeared to be minor and that the captain was expected to be fully available for the main series, which includes fixtures at Lord’s starting on August 27 and at Edgbaston from September 9. In the first innings, Pakistan’s batting line‑up collapsed dramatically.
After a solid start that saw them at 164 for 2, the team slumped to 238 all out, unable to chase down England’s opening total of 305 all out. This left the visitors trailing by 67 runs after the first innings.
The innings featured a standout performance from Abdullah Shafique, who top‑scored with 61 runs, while the Pakistani bowlers struggled to make significant inroads against the County Select XI. England’s spinner Shoaib Bashir, eager to secure a place in the Headingley XI, delivered an impressive spell of 4 for 76 from 20.2 overs, claiming the wickets of opener Imam‑ul‑Haq (37), middle‑order batsman Salman Ali Agha (14), Aamir Jamal (8) and Ghazi Ghori (27). On the home side’s second innings, the County Select XI built a commanding lead, reaching 128 for 3 by stumps. James Rew contributed 40 runs, while Caleb Falconer, the promising Middlesex youngster, notched an unbeaten 52 – his second half‑century of the day.
Saif Zaib added an unbeaten 24, and the innings continued after Gay and his opening partner Tom Haines (who made 12) were dismissed cheaply. The team’s total extended their advantage to 195 runs at the close of play, putting them in a dominant position.
The warm‑up match served as a crucial platform for both sides to assess player fitness and form ahead of the three‑Test series that will commence on August 19. For England, the performances of emerging talents like Gay, Rew, and Falconer will be closely monitored as the selectors finalize the squad for Headingley.
Meanwhile, Pakistan will be hoping that Babar’s hand recovers swiftly, as his leadership and batting are pivotal to their chances in the series. The Pakistan camp also noted that despite the setback, Babar’s overall condition remains stable, and he is expected to resume full training ahead of the first official Test. Fans can follow the series live on Sky Sports Cricket, with additional streaming options available through NOW. The Sky Sports Cricket Podcast provides further analysis and insights, while the Sky Sports app offers real‑time scorecards and updates.
As the teams prepare for the upcoming contests, the warm‑up match highlighted both the depth of talent in the English county system and the resilience of the Pakistani side, setting the stage for an eagerly anticipated showdown between the two cricketing nations.