We evaluate England's squad following their 194-run, series‑sealing triumph over Pakistan at Lord's, where the pace attack once more stole the limelight. The Test itself was largely forgettable, highlighted only by the fact that England's opening batsman faced a mere 26 balls across both innings.
He joined a group of batters who felt a little unlucky when they were given out leg‑before‑wicket in the first innings to deliveries that, at first glance, seemed to be missing the stumps, only for a timely Pakistani review to overturn the on‑field call. His dismissal in the second innings was far more straightforward – a mistimed shot that was caught cleanly at mid‑off. The match commentary repeatedly reminded viewers to use Chrome for a smoother video experience and promoted streaming options, podcasts, and the Sky Sports app, but the real story lay in the performances on the field. Gay, for his part, can count himself unlucky in both innings.
In the first innings, Mohammad Rizwan produced a spectacular diving catch off a modest leg‑side glance, while in the rain‑affected third day a devastating grubber ball resulted in an LBW that ended Gay's innings at a crucial moment. Despite his determination – he batted resolutely until the close of the second day’s session, a trait he has displayed since his debut earlier this summer – his place in the side is being questioned. Jacob Bethell remains unavailable after this series, and several younger players are knocking on the door for a permanent berth.
One of those aspirants is Haseeb Cox, who is pressing for a regular 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 admitted the pressure of a fleeting opportunity: "This could be your only shot, make sure this counts." He has come close to delivering, showing composure in the middle order similar to his performance at Headingley. A century again slipped away, this time due to an extraordinary slip catch taken by Salman Ali Agha – arguably one of the finest catches seen in recent English cricket. The discussion then turned to the England captain, Joe Root, and his apparent LBW woes.
Michael Atherton of Sky Sports noted the irony that even a player of Root's stature – over 160 Tests and an average above 50, making him one of England's greatest batsmen – can be plagued by a growing 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 LBWs have risen across the board in seam‑friendly conditions, Root will be eager to erase the blemish with a big score in the final Test at Edgbaston. Jonny Brook's contribution was understated by his modest run tally, yet his technique shone, especially in the second innings when he navigated a tricky period on the second evening before forging a promising partnership with Dan Lawrence on day three, when the pitch was at its most testing.
In the first innings, Brook fell to a sharp in‑ducker from Mohammad Ali, edging faintly to Rizwan, who stood up to the stumps and appealed for LBW. Brook has been a reliable slip fielder all summer, and his dismissal came after a well‑timed catch from Azan Awais, who later contributed 46 runs. Dan Lawrence is another player staking his claim for a permanent role, particularly at number six, a slot that now needs to fill the void left by Ben Stokes. While Lawrence cannot be expected to replicate Stokes' extraordinary feats, he brings a similar counter‑attacking flair.
His second‑innings half‑century under testing conditions highlighted his ability to accelerate the scoring rate when required. Additionally, his occasional off‑spin offers a useful variety to complement England's four‑pronged pace attack, which, despite its potency, has not yet been fully utilized. The batting resurgence of Ben Smith also deserves mention.
Smith struck 61 off 80 balls in the first innings, hitting ten boundaries and showcasing the aggressive style that earned him a reputation early in his Test career. After a difficult Ashes series that saw his form dip, Smith admitted to Sky Sports that he had found it "tough". His recent performances suggest he is rediscovering his confidence. Moreover, his wicket‑keeping remains exemplary, especially when standing up to the stumps, earning him additional credit.
Turning to the bowlers, Sam Atkinson has felt the squeeze of England's pace‑heavy strategy. Often relegated to the second change, he has struggled to find the preferred end to bowl from, as the frontline bowlers – Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer, and Josh Tongue – have dominated the wicket‑taking opportunities. Atkinson's spell before tea on the fourth afternoon was lively, but he has claimed only one wicket in the series so far and will be looking to make an impact at Edgbaston. His batting, however, provided a bright spot: a confident 45 at Lord's, the same ground where he once recorded a Test hundred.
Robinson, meanwhile, has been a revelation. He finished the match with astonishing figures of 8‑35 from 27 overs, a testament to his skill and control. His career tally now stands at 99 wickets from 23 Tests at an average of 19.53, which improves dramatically to 15.45 in his five Tests at Lord's and an eye‑popping 8.34 for his three appearances this summer. Nasser Hussain praised Robinson, noting that while questions will arise about his ability on more difficult pitches and his fitness, he is currently England's most effective bowler in these conditions.
Jofra Archer also made a significant impact. According to CricViz, his opening spell averaged 90.7 mph, touching 94 mph on occasion, and he claimed the flat‑footed Shan Masood caught behind. Archer repeatedly threatened both edges of the bat, though the Pakistani batsmen managed to survive many close calls. Later, Archer dismantled the tail and even bowled a ferocious bouncer to Babar Azam in the second innings, helping reduce Pakistan to 14‑3 as part of another devastating new‑ball burst.
Josh Tongue contributed by dismissing Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam just before lunch on day two, and later removing Saud Shakeel, who had been flirting with a century before being caught on a mistimed hook. Tongue’s ability to set traps for top‑order batsmen has been valuable, though he has occasionally leaked runs, especially to left‑handers, a weakness that will need addressing. He also showcased his batting prowess, joining Atkinson in a spirited 47‑run partnership for the last wicket in the first innings.
Overall, the series has highlighted England's depth in pace bowling, the emergence of players like Cox and Lawrence, and the ongoing challenges faced by senior batsmen such as Root and Gay. As the teams prepare for the final Test at Edgbaston, the narrative will focus on whether England can maintain its dominance with the seamers while the batting line‑up finds consistency and whether the younger hopefuls can cement their places in the national side.