We evaluate England's lineup following their decisive 194-run triumph over Pakistan at Lord's, a win that once more highlighted the potency of the seam attack. The Test itself was largely forgettable, with the English opener managing just 26 balls across both innings. A handful of batsmen felt a touch unlucky, especially when early‑innings LBW decisions were overturned after Pakistan’s timely reviews, showing the ball had actually missed the stumps.
In the second innings the same player fell to a simple mis‑hit that was caught cleanly at mid‑off. Gay’s fortunes mirrored this mis‑luck.
In the first innings he was dismissed by a spectacular diving catch from Mohammad Rizwan, who managed to snatch a leg‑side flick that seemed destined for the boundary. In the rain‑affected third day, a low‑driven ball turned into a devastating LBW, ending his innings at a precarious moment.
Gay had shown resolve by staying at the crease until stumps on the second evening – a trait he has displayed since his debut earlier in the summer – yet his place is under scrutiny as Jacob Bethell remains unavailable and other contenders push for selection. One of those challengers, Tom Cox, has been making a strong case for a permanent spot. Since being recalled to replace the injured Bethell at number three, Cox has notched a half‑century in each of his two recent Tests.
Speaking to Sky Sports before the Lord’s encounter, he admitted, "This could be your only shot, make sure this counts," and he has tried to live up to that mantra. His composure in the middle order was evident, reminiscent of his confident display at Headingley. Though a century eluded him again – this time due to an extraordinary slip catch by Salman Ali Agha, arguably one of the best ever seen – his contribution was nonetheless vital. England captain Joe Root has also been under the microscope for a perceived LBW vulnerability.
Michael Atherton noted that even a player of Root’s stature – over 160 Tests and a career average above 50 – is not immune to the trend, having been dismissed leg‑before‑wicket in both innings, marking his seventh LBW of the summer and ninth in his last twelve Tests. The rise in LBW dismissals across the series reflects the seam‑friendly conditions, and Root will be keen to erase that blemish with a big score at the upcoming Edgbaston Test.
Ben Brook’s performance belied his modest run tally. In the second innings he navigated a tricky period on the second evening with caution before forging a promising partnership with Dan Lawrence on day three, when the pitch was at its most testing. Brook’s first‑innings wicket came via a sharp in‑ducker from Mohammad Ali, who trapped a faint shoulder edge.
He also showed his slip‑catching prowess throughout the summer, taking a key catch to dismiss Azan Awais for eight, before the latter went on to score 46. Lawrence continues to stake his claim for a regular spot, particularly at number six, a role that seems tailor‑made for him as England search for a successor to the Ben Stokes archetype. While he cannot be expected to replicate Stokes’ extraordinary feats, Lawrence offers a similar counter‑attacking mindset with the bat, evident in his second‑innings fifty under difficult conditions.
His part‑time off‑spin also adds balance to England’s four‑pronged pace attack, which, despite its depth, has yet to be fully utilised. A welcome resurgence came from the wicket‑keeper‑batsman Jos Basil, who struck 61 off 80 balls in the first innings, peppered with ten boundaries. Basil’s aggressive style harks back to his early Test success, though his form dipped during the recent Ashes drubbing, prompting him to admit to Sky Sports that he had found it "tough".
Nevertheless, his flawless work behind the stumps, especially when standing up to the wicket, earned him additional praise. Bowling-wise, Sam Atkinson has felt the squeeze of England’s pace rotation, often relegated to second change and denied the preferred new‑ball spells that Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer have dominated. Despite limited opportunities, Atkinson delivered a lively spell before tea on day four and claimed a solitary wicket in the series, hoping to capitalize at Edgbaston. His batting, however, was a bright spot, as he contributed a useful 45 at Lord’s – the venue of his maiden Test century.
Robinson’s figures were nothing short of spectacular: 8‑35 from 27 overs, cementing his status as England’s leading bowler in seamer‑friendly conditions. He now boasts 99 wickets in 23 Tests at an average of 19.53, which improves dramatically to 15.45 at Lord’s and an astonishing 8.34 for his three summer appearances. Nasser Hussain praised Robinson’s resurgence, noting that after a period out of the side, he has become England’s premier seamer, though he will face tougher pitches that demand greater stamina.
Jofra Archer also made a significant impact, delivering an opening spell averaging 90.7 mph with occasional deliveries touching 94 mph. He dismissed Shan Masood caught behind and continually troubled both edges of the bat, eventually breaking through the tail in the second innings and helping reduce Pakistan to 14‑3 alongside Robinson. Josh Tongue proved his worth by removing Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam before lunch on day two, then returning to dismantle the lower order in the second innings.
He also set a trap for Saud Shakeel, who, despite a confident hook, fell just three runs short of a well‑deserved hundred. Tongue’s occasional leak of runs, especially to left‑handers, remains an area for improvement, as he once went for over five runs an over in a 14.5‑over spell. In the lower order, Tom Atkinson and Tongue forged a spirited 47‑run partnership for the final wicket in the first innings, providing some entertainment before the second morning’s play.
As the series moves to Edgbaston, England will look to maintain the momentum generated by their seamers, while the batsmen aim to address the LBW trend and convert promising starts into substantial scores.