We evaluate England’s squad following their 194‑run, series‑sealing triumph over Pakistan at Lord’s, with the pace attack once more stealing the spotlight. The Test itself was largely forgettable, highlighted mainly by the opening batsman’s brief cameo – he faced just 26 balls across both innings. Several top‑order players suffered the misfortune of being adjudged leg‑before‑wicket in the first innings to deliveries that, at first glance, appeared to be missing the stumps; a timely Pakistani review later overturned the on‑field call. In the second innings his dismissal was more straightforward – a weak defensive flick straight to mid‑off.
The match report also notes that viewers should use the Chrome browser for a smoother video experience, and it promotes streaming options for the England‑Pakistan clash via NOW, as well as the Sky Sports Cricket podcast and the Sky Sports app for full scorecards. Gay, another opener, can count himself unlucky 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 low‑scoring, desperate innings ended with a crushing lbw decision. Gay had shown resilience by batting through to the close of the second day’s session – a quality he has displayed since his debut earlier in the summer – but his place in the side is under scrutiny.
Jacob Bethell remains unavailable after this series, and other contenders are waiting for a chance. One of those hopefuls is Haseeb Cox, who is pressing for a permanent spot 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 said, “This could be your only shot, make sure this counts.” He has taken that advice seriously, showing confidence in the middle order much as he did at Headingley. A century again slipped away, this time because of a spectacular slip catch by Salman Ali Agha – arguably one of the best catches seen in the format.
The discussion then turns to Joe Root’s apparent lbw dilemma. Michael Atherton of Sky Sports observed, “It is fascinating that even a player with more than 160 Tests, an average above 50 and a status as one of England’s greatest batsmen, can still be vulnerable to a growing trend of lbw dismissals.” Root fell leg‑before‑wicket in both innings, marking his seventh such dismissal this summer and nine in his last twelve Tests.
While many batters have suffered similar fates in seamer‑friendly conditions, Root will be eager to correct the pattern with a big score in the final Test at Edgbaston. Tom Brook’s performance exceeded the modest run tally he posted, especially in the second innings where he navigated a difficult period on the second evening before forging a promising partnership with Dan Lawrence on day three, when the conditions were at their toughest. In the first innings, however, he fell victim to a sharp in‑ducker from Mohammad Ali, edging faintly to Rizwan, who was standing up to the stumps off Mohammad Abbas.
Brook has been a reliable slip fielder all summer, taking a catch off Azan Awais on eight runs and later contributing 46 in the first innings. Lawrence is another player staking his claim for a regular place, with the number‑six slot appearing to suit him as England search for a long‑term replacement for the Ben Stokes‑type role. While he cannot be expected to replicate Stokes’ extraordinary feats of the past decade, Lawrence brings a counter‑attacking mindset with the bat, evident in his second‑innings fifty scored under testing conditions.
He also adds value with part‑time off‑spin, complementing England’s four‑pronged pace attack, which has yet to be fully displayed. A welcome resurgence with the bat came from Ben Smith, who smashed 61 off 80 balls in the first innings, hitting ten boundaries. This aggressive style is what earned him a reputation early in his Test career, but his form waned during the recent Ashes defeat, prompting him to admit to Sky Sports Cricket that “I have found it tough.” His wicket‑keeping remains exemplary, especially when standing up to the stumps, earning him extra credit. Bowling figures for the match show a mixed picture.
Sam Atkinson, traditionally a frontline bowler, found himself relegated to second change as England’s four‑bowler strategy favoured Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer with the new ball and Josh Tongue with the tail. Atkinson’s spell before tea on day four was lively, but he has taken only one wicket in the series so far and will be looking to capitalize at Edgbaston. His batting, however, was a bright spot – he scored 45 in the first innings at Lord’s, the venue of his Test hundred. Robinson delivered a career‑defining performance, returning astonishing match figures of 8‑35 from 27 overs of skillful seam bowling.
He now boasts 99 wickets in 23 Tests at an average of 19.53, which improves to 15.45 in his five Tests at Lord’s and an eye‑popping 8.34 in his three appearances this summer. Nasser Hussain of Sky Sports praised him, saying, “In these conditions he is England’s best bowler. To come back after a long exclusion and become the spearhead of the attack is a remarkable achievement.” Hussain added that Robinson should now ask himself, the coaching staff, and veterans like Stuart Broad and James Anderson what he needs to do to become a complete bowler.
Jofra Archer also earned a five‑wicket haul, though many felt he deserved even more, especially in the first innings where he could have taken additional wickets. According to CricViz, Archer’s opening spell averaged 90.7 mph, with occasional deliveries touching 94 mph.
He dismissed Shan Masood caught behind and kept applying pressure on both edges of the bat, though the Pakistani batsmen managed to survive many of his blows. In the second innings he delivered a brutal bouncer to Babar Azam, contributing to a devastating new‑ball spell that reduced Pakistan to 14‑3. Josh Tongue proved his worth by dismissing Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam just before lunch on day two, then returning to clean‑up the tail in the second innings. He also trapped Saud Shakeel, who was cruising toward a hundred before being caught off a hook shot, falling three runs short of the milestone.
While Tongue’s economy can be a concern – he leaked runs, particularly to left‑handers, at over five runs an over in his 14.5‑over spell – his ability to take wickets at crucial moments remains valuable. In addition to his bowling, Tongue contributed with the bat, scoring a quick 47 in a last‑wicket partnership with Atkinson in the first innings, showcasing his all‑round capabilities.
The article concludes by inviting fans to watch day one of England’s third Test against Pakistan at Edgbaston live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event, starting at 10 am on Wednesday, 9 September. It also mentions options for streaming without a contract and reminds readers that all games are broadcast live on Sky Sports. Overall, the ratings underline the dominance of England’s seamers, the emerging role of players like Cox and Lawrence, and the ongoing challenges faced by senior batsmen such as Root and Gay.
The series‑sealing win at Lord’s sets the stage for a decisive final Test at Edgbaston, where England will look to cement their supremacy and address the few lingering weaknesses identified throughout the summer.