We have evaluated England's squad following their decisive 194-run victory over Pakistan at Lord's, a win that once more highlighted the potency of the seam attack. The match itself was a low‑key affair, with the England opener managing just 26 balls across both innings. Several batsmen felt a touch of misfortune, particularly those dismissed lbw in the first innings to deliveries that initially appeared to be missing the stumps, only for a timely Pakistani review to overturn the on‑field decision.
In the second innings the same player was caught out at mid‑off after a poorly timed shot. Gay, too, can claim a degree of bad luck in both innings. In the first innings Mohammad Rizwan produced a spectacular diving catch off a modest leg‑side flick, while in the rain‑affected third day a heavy grubber ball led to an lbw dismissal at a moment when batting was at its most difficult. Gay had shown resolve by batting through to the close of the second evening, a quality that has been evident since his debut earlier this summer.
Nevertheless, his position in the side is under increasing scrutiny, especially with Jacob Bethell yet to return after this series and other contenders knocking on the door. One of those contenders is Tom Cox, who is pressing for a permanent berth after notching a second fifty 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 seizing that chance, displaying confidence in the middle order much as he did at Headingley. A century again eluded him, this time due to an extraordinary slip catch taken by Salman Ali Agha – arguably one of the finest catches seen in recent memory.
The discussion about whether England captain Ben Root has an lbw problem resurfaced after he was dismissed leg‑before‑wicket in both innings, marking his seventh such dismissal this summer and nine in his last twelve Tests. Michael Atherton of Sky Sports observed, "It is fascinating that even a player with more than 160 Tests and an average above 50 – one of England's all‑time greats – can still be vulnerable to this trend." The rise in lbw dismissals across the summer reflects the seamer‑friendly conditions, and Root will be eager to rectify the issue with a big score in the final Test at Edgbaston.
Joe Brook’s performance was arguably better than his modest run tally suggests. In the second innings he navigated a difficult period on the second evening with caution before forging a promising partnership with Dan Lawrence on day three, when the pitch was at its toughest.
However, like many of his teammates, Brook fell to a sharp in‑ducker from Mohammad Ali, edging a faint shoulder ball to Rizwan, who stood up to the stumps and dismissed him off Mohammad Abbas. Lawrence continues to stake his claim for a regular spot, particularly at the No 6 slot that England have been trying to fill since Ben Stokes' departure. While he may never replicate Stokes' extraordinary feats, Lawrence offers a similar counter‑attacking flair, as evidenced by his second‑innings half‑century under testing conditions.
His occasional off‑spin also adds balance to England's four‑pronged pace attack, a facet that has yet to be fully exploited. Jonny Smith returned to form with a brisk 61 off 80 balls in the first innings, hitting ten boundaries. This aggressive approach is the hallmark of his early Test career, which saw him flourish in his first 18 months before criticism arrived during the Ashes debacle when runs dried up. Smith admitted to Sky Sports Cricket that "I have found it tough" during that period, but his excellent keeping – especially when standing up to the stumps – earned him additional praise.
Bowling-wise, Sam Atkinson has felt the squeeze of England’s deep pace resources. With Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer dominating the new‑ball duties and Josh Tongue proving effective with the tail, Atkinson has been relegated to second change and denied his preferred bowling end. Although his spell before tea on the fourth afternoon was impressive, he has claimed only a single wicket in the series so far and will be keen to make an impact at Edgbaston.
His batting, however, showed promise as he scored 45 at Lord’s – the venue of his Test hundred. Robinson delivered a career‑defining performance, finishing with match figures of 8‑35 from 27 overs of superb seam bowling. He now boasts 99 wickets in 23 Tests at an average of 19.53, which improves to 15.45 at Lord’s and an astonishing 8.34 for his three appearances this summer. Nasser Hussain of Sky Sports praised him, saying, "In these conditions he is currently England's best bowler.
For someone who was out of the side for a long time to return and become the leading wicket‑taker is a remarkable achievement." Archer, too, made a significant impact. CricViz recorded his opening spell averaging 90.7 mph, with occasional deliveries touching 94 mph. He dismissed Shan Masood caught behind and kept the pressure on both ends of the bat throughout the innings, eventually helping to dismantle the Pakistani tail. In the second innings he bowled a ferocious bouncer to Babar Azam, contributing to a devastating new‑ball spell that reduced Pakistan to 14‑3.
Josh Tongue claimed the wickets of Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam before lunch on day two, and later trapped Saud Shakeel, who was on the brink of a century, for a caught‑behind dismissal. While Tongue has proven his worth in the attack, he tends to leak runs, especially against left‑handers, conceding over five runs per over in his 14.5‑over spell.
He also contributed with the bat, adding a quick 47‑run partnership for the last wicket alongside Atkinson. Overall, England’s seamers have once again demonstrated why they are among the world’s most feared units, especially on English pitches that reward swing and seam movement.
The batting line‑up, though showing signs of vulnerability to lbw dismissals, has displayed resilience and depth, with several players pushing for permanent places. As the series moves to Edgbaston for the final Test, the focus will shift to whether the bowlers can maintain their dominance and whether the batsmen can convert starts into substantial scores, thereby securing a series‑winning performance for England.