We assess England's lineup following their decisive 194-run victory over Pakistan at Lord's, a win that once more highlighted the potency of the seam attack. The Test itself was largely forgettable, especially for the England opener who faced just 26 balls across both innings.
He was among several batsmen who felt a touch unlucky, being given out leg‑before‑wicket 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 call. His second‑innings dismissal was more straightforward – a mistimed shot that was caught cleanly at mid‑off. Gay’s fortunes mirrored this 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 heavy‑bottomed ball trapped Gay LBW when the batting conditions were at their toughest.
Gay had shown resilience by staying at the crease until stumps on the second evening, a quality he has displayed since his summer debut, but his place in the side is under increasing scrutiny as Jacob Bethell remains unavailable and other contenders press for selection. One such contender is Tom Cox, who is vying for a permanent spot after being recalled for the injured Bethell at number three. Cox notched his second half‑century in as many Tests, saying before the Lord’s encounter, "This could be your only shot, make sure this counts." He looked confident in the middle order, echoing his composure at Headingley. A century eluded him again, this time due to an extraordinary slip catch by Salman Ali Agha – arguably one of the finest catches seen in a Test.
England captain Ben Root’s LBW woes also featured prominently. Michael Atherton noted that even a player of Root’s stature – over 160 Tests and a career average above 50 – can be plagued by a growing trend of LBW dismissals, with Root falling leg‑before‑wicket in both innings, marking his seventh such dismissal of the summer and nine in his last twelve Tests.
The increase in LBW outs is a broader pattern in seamer‑friendly conditions, and Root will be eager to rectify it with a big score at the forthcoming Edgbaston Test. Joe Brook’s performance was better than his modest run tally suggests. In the second innings he navigated a challenging period on the second evening 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 when he edged a faint shoulder ball to Rizwan, who stood up to the stumps off Mohammad Abbas. He has been a reliable slip fielder all summer, taking a catch to dismiss Azan Awais on eight and later contributing 46 runs in the first innings. Dan Lawrence continues to stake his claim for a permanent place, especially at number six, a role that has become a vacancy since Ben Stokes stepped away.
While Lawrence may never replicate Stokes’s extraordinary feats, he brings a similar counter‑attacking flair, evident in his second‑innings half‑century under difficult conditions. His part‑time off‑spin also adds balance to England’s four‑pronged pace attack, which has yet to be fully utilized. James Smith returned to form with a brisk 61 off 80 balls in the first innings, hitting ten boundaries. His aggressive style made him a standout early in his Test career, though a slump during the Ashes led to criticism.
Smith admitted to Sky Sports that he has found recent form challenging, but his crisp batting and excellent keeping, particularly when standing up to the stumps, earned him additional praise. Bowling-wise, Sam Atkinson has felt the pressure of England’s deep seam resources, often relegated to second change and missing his preferred end.
With Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue all taking wickets, opportunities have been scarce. Atkinson’s spell before tea on day four was a highlight, though he has only one wicket in the series so far and will be keen to capitalize at Edgbaston. His batting, however, was a bright spot as he struck 45 at Lord’s, the venue of his Test century. Robinson delivered a career‑defining performance, claiming 8‑35 across 27 overs with exquisite skill.
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 matches this summer. Nasser Hussain praised Robinson as England’s best bowler in current conditions, noting his rapid rise after a period out of the side.
Jofra Archer’s opening spell averaged 90.7 mph, touching 94 mph on occasion, and he dismissed Shan Masood caught behind. Though he repeatedly threatened both edges, wickets were hard to come by until he broke through the tail later. In the second innings he bowled a fierce bouncer to Babar Azam, helping reduce Pakistan to 14‑3 as part of another devastating new‑ball burst.
Josh Tongue claimed the wickets of Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam before lunch on day two and later dismissed Saud Shakeel, who was left just three runs shy of a well‑deserved hundred. Tongue continues to prove his value in the attack, though he concedes runs, especially to left‑handers, a point that will need addressing.
He also contributed with the bat, adding a quick 47‑run partnership for the last wicket alongside Atkinson in the first innings. Overall, England’s seamers have dominated the series, with the batting department showing flashes of resilience and potential.
The upcoming Test at Edgbaston will provide a final platform for players like Cox, Root, and the emerging bowlers to cement their places and address the lingering LBW concerns that have haunted the side this summer.