We assess England's lineup following their decisive 194-run triumph over Pakistan at Lord's, a victory that once more highlighted the potency of the seam attack. The Test itself was largely forgettable, especially for the England opener who managed just 26 deliveries across his two innings.
He joined a group of batsmen who felt a bit unlucky, being dismissed leg‑before‑wicket in the first innings to deliveries that initially appeared to be missing the stumps, only for a timely Pakistan review to overturn the on‑field call. His second‑innings dismissal was more straightforward – a mistimed shot that was caught cleanly at mid‑off. Gay can also claim a degree of misfortune in both innings. In the first innings, Mohammad Rizwan produced a spectacular diving catch off a modest leg‑side edge, while in the rain‑affected third day a devastating grubber ball led to an LBW decision at a moment when batting was at its most challenging.
Gay had shown determination, batting through to the close of the second evening – a trait he has displayed since his debut earlier this summer – but his place in the side is now under scrutiny, especially with Jacob Bethell still absent and other contenders eager for a chance. One such contender is Haseeb Cox, who is pushing for a permanent slot after notching a second half‑century in as many Tests since being recalled to replace the injured Bethell at number three.
Speaking to Sky Sports Cricket before the Lord's Test, Cox admitted, "This could be your only shot, make sure this counts." He has come close to making that statement count, playing with confidence in the middle order much as he did at Headingley. A century again slipped away, this time due to an extraordinary catch taken by Salman Ali Agha – arguably one of the finest slip catches ever witnessed. The question of whether England captain Ben Root has an LBW problem was raised by former England great Michael Atherton. "It is fascinating that even a player with more than 160 Tests and an average above 50 – one of England's greatest ever – can still be vulnerable to a developing trend," Atherton noted after Root fell leg‑before‑wicket in both innings, marking his seventh such dismissal this summer and nine in his last twelve Tests.
LBW dismissals have risen across the board in seamer‑friendly conditions, and Root will be keen to put this issue behind him with a big score at the upcoming Edgbaston Test. James Brook's performance belied his modest run tally, especially in the second innings where he navigated a testing period on the second evening with caution before forging a promising partnership with Dan Lawrence on day three, even as conditions grew tougher.
In the first innings, Brook was bowled by a lethal in‑ducker from Mohammad Ali, while in the second his name appeared on the scoresheet after a faint shoulder edge to Rizwan, who stood up to the stumps off Mohammad Abbas. Brook has been a reliable slip fielder all summer, and his safe hands helped dismiss Azan Awais for eight, a wicket that preceded his own 46‑run contribution in the first innings. Dan Lawrence continues to stake his claim for a permanent place, particularly at number six, a role that seems tailor‑made as England search for a replacement for the Ben Stokes‑shaped void. While Lawrence may never replicate Stokes' extraordinary feats, he brings a similar counter‑attacking spirit.
His second‑innings half‑century in testing conditions showcased his ability to accelerate when needed. Moreover, his part‑time off‑spin provides a useful balance to England's four‑pronged pace attack, which, despite its depth, has yet to be fully deployed. Joe Smith also enjoyed a return to form, hammering 61 off 80 balls in the first innings with ten boundaries. This aggressive approach harks back to his early Test days, when he burst onto the scene with a dream‑like start before criticism mounted during the Ashes debacle.
Smith admitted to Sky Sports Cricket that he has found the recent slump "tough," but his crisp stroke‑play and sharp keeping – especially when standing up to the stumps – earned him extra credit. Sam Atkinson has felt the squeeze of England's pace‑heavy strategy, often relegated to second change and denied the preferred new‑ball overs that Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer dominate. While Atkinson's spell before tea on day four was lively, he has secured only a single wicket in the series so far and will be eager to make his mark at Edgbaston.
His batting, however, offered a bright spot: he enjoyed a 45‑run knock at Lord's, the venue of his Test hundred. Robinson, meanwhile, has been nothing short of sensational.
He recorded match figures of 8‑35 from 27 overs, a performance that propelled his career tally to 99 wickets in 23 Tests at an average of 19.53. His numbers improve dramatically at Lord's – 15.45 average – and are even more impressive for the summer, standing at 8.34. Nasser Hussain praised Robinson, saying, "In these conditions he is England's best bowler, and his resurgence after a period out of the side is a remarkable achievement." Archer also deserves commendation beyond his five‑wicket haul. According to CricViz, his opening spell averaged 90.7 mph, with occasional deliveries touching 94 mph.
He dismissed Shan Masood caught behind and repeatedly threatened both edges of the bat, eventually dismantling the tail in the latter stages of the innings. In the second innings, Archer delivered a brutal bouncer to Babar Azam, contributing to a devastating new‑ball spell that reduced Pakistan to 14‑3.
Josh Tongue has been a useful component of the attack, picking up wickets of Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam before lunch on day two, and later unsettling Saud Shakeel, who edged a hook shot just three runs short of a well‑deserved century. Tongue's ability to set traps for top‑order batsmen is evident, though he does concede runs, especially to left‑handers, a facet that will need refinement. He also contributed with the bat, adding a quick 47‑run partnership for the last wicket alongside Atkinson, showcasing his all‑round value. Overall, England's seamers have once again proven why they are the backbone of the side in English conditions.
The batting unit, while showing flashes of brilliance – particularly from Cox, Lawrence, and Smith – still has areas to tighten, especially against LBW dismissals. As the series moves to Edgbaston, the focus will be on converting opportunities into big scores and ensuring the pace quartet remains relentless. The upcoming Test promises a compelling narrative: will the seamers continue to dominate, and can the batsmen finally silence the LBW bug and secure a commanding series win?