We evaluate England's squad after their commanding 194‑run win over Pakistan at Lord's, a victory that once more highlighted the potency of the seam bowling unit. The Test itself was largely forgettable, especially for the opening batsman who faced just 26 deliveries across both innings.
He joined a group of England batters who felt a touch unlucky when early‑innings lbw decisions went against them; the ball appeared to be heading over the stumps, yet a timely Pakistani review overturned the call. In the second innings his dismissal was more straightforward – a mistimed chip straight to mid‑off. The match report also notes that fans should use Chrome for a smoother video experience and that the game can be streamed via NOW, with the Sky Sports Cricket podcast available for further analysis. All the day’s scorecards are accessible, and the Sky Sports app can be downloaded for on‑the‑go updates.
Gay, another opener, suffered a similar fate. In the first innings he was dismissed lbw after a spectacular diving catch by Mohammad Rizwan, who plucked a ball that seemed to be a leg‑side edge. In the rain‑affected third day his second‑innings wicket came from a devastating grubber that trapped him leg‑before‑wicket when the batting conditions were at their toughest. Gay had shown determination by batting through to stumps on the second evening, a quality evident since his debut this summer.
However, his place in the side is under scrutiny, particularly with Jacob Bethell still out after the series and other contenders pressing for selection. One of those contenders is Haseeb Cox, who is fighting for a permanent spot after being recalled in place of the injured Bethell at number three.
Cox notched his second fifty in as many Tests, saying before the Lord’s Test, "This could be your only shot, make sure this counts." He has responded by looking assured at the crease, mirroring his performance at Headingley. A century still eluded him, this time due to an extraordinary slip catch by Salman Ali Agha – arguably one of the best catches ever seen in that position. The discussion then turns to Joe Root’s apparent lbw problem.
Michael Atherton of Sky Sports observed that even a player of Root’s stature – over 160 Tests and a career average above 50 – is being examined for a rising trend of leg‑before‑wicket dismissals. Root fell lbw in both innings of this match, marking his seventh such dismissal this summer and nine in his last twelve Tests.
While lbw dismissals have risen across the board in seam‑friendly conditions, Root will be eager to reverse the trend with a big score at the final Test in Edgbaston. Tom Brook’s contribution was undervalued by his modest run total.
In the second innings he negotiated a tricky period on the second evening with caution, then forged a promising partnership with Dan Lawrence on day three when the pitch was at its most challenging. In the first innings, however, he fell to a sharp in‑ducker from Mohammad Ali after a faint shoulder edge that was caught by Rizwan standing up to the stumps off Mohammad Abbas.
Lawrence is also staking his claim for a permanent role, especially at number six, a slot that England have been trying to fill since Ben Stokes moved on. While Lawrence cannot yet match Stokes’ extraordinary feats, he brings a counter‑attacking flair, evident in his second‑innings half‑century under testing conditions. His part‑time off‑spin adds balance to England’s four‑pronged pace attack, which has yet to be fully displayed. Harry Smith returned to form with a brisk 61 off 80 balls in the first innings, hitting ten boundaries.
This aggressive style defined his early Test career, though his form dipped during the Ashes loss, prompting him to admit to Sky Sports that "I have found it tough". His wicket‑keeping remains exemplary, especially when standing up to the stumps, earning him an extra credit in the rating. Sam Atkinson has felt the squeeze of England’s deep seam battery, often relegated to second change and denied the preferred end. With Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue all performing well, there are simply fewer wickets to share.
Atkinson’s spell before tea on day four was a highlight, yet he has only one wicket in the series and will be keen to make an impact at Edgbaston. His batting, however, was a bright spot; he scored 45 at Lord’s, the same ground where he made his Test century. Robinson delivered a match‑winning performance, claiming 8‑35 across 27 overs of skillful seam bowling.
He now boasts 99 wickets in 23 Tests at an average of 19.53, with an even more impressive 15.45 average at Lord’s and a staggering 8.34 in this summer’s three Tests. Nasser Hussain praised him, noting that despite questions about his ability on difficult pitches, Robinson is currently England’s best bowler in seam‑friendly conditions.
Archer’s opening spell was blisteringly fast, averaging 90.7 mph with occasional deliveries touching 94 mph. He dismissed Shan Masood caught behind and repeatedly threatened both edges, though wickets were hard to come by until he helped dismantle the tail later. In the second innings he bowled a ferocious bouncer that unsettled Babar Azam, contributing to a 14‑3 collapse alongside Robinson.
Josh Tongue claimed the wickets of Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam before lunch on day two, then continued to clean up the tail in the second innings. He also trapped Saud Shakeel, who was well set for a century before being caught.
Tongue’s ability to generate bounce and movement makes him a valuable component of the attack, though he does concede runs, especially to left‑handers, a point that will need refinement. He also contributed with the bat, scoring a quick 47‑run partnership for the last wicket with Atkinson.
Overall, the series has showcased England’s seam dominance, with the bowlers shouldering the load and the batsmen gradually finding rhythm. The upcoming Edgbaston Test will be a chance for players like Root, Cox, Lawrence and Atkinson to cement their places, while the seam quartet will aim to maintain the pressure that has defined this victorious campaign.