2nd Test: England vs Pakistan
Pakistan head to Yorkshire on Friday with a chance to complete a stunning series wins in England after a devastating performance in the first test at Lords.
The tourists, under the command of wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfraz Ahmed, made a sensational start at the Headquarters, blowing England’s batting order away twice to win by nine wickets. Then Pakistan batted calmly and fielded superbly to complete their victory at a canter, giving England skipper Joe Root plenty to think about.
The bookies odds favoured England strongly at Lords, and still do for the upcoming decider at Headingly, where the top betting tips expect the Three Lions to lick their wounds and come out fighting.
Talking Points
There has been plenty of talk and gnashing of teeth in England’s ranks around the spineless way the hosts collapsed in the opening test, but there has been no knee-jerk reaction from the selectors. Opening batsman Keaton Jennings has been drafted in to replace Mark Stoneman in England’s only change to the losing team.
Jennings is in fine early season form, already scoring three tons for his new county, Lancashire, while Stoneman managed to muster only 13 runs in his two innings at Lords. So Jennings returns for his first appearance since last August, in a victory over South Africa. And it’s the 25-year-old’s steely concentration that is much needed at the top of England’s order; he scored an impressive century against India on debut in 2016.
England are still looking for an opening partner for Alastair Cook since the retirement of Andrew Strauss and this could be Jennings’ best chance to stake his claim.
With the exception of the hapless Stoneman and Dawid Malan, all England’s batsmen made a start at Lords. Root and Cook both scoring well and, to be fair to Malan, the Middlesex skipper deserves another chance after performing soundly on the difficult winter tour of Australia and New Zealand.
And the seventh wicket century partnership of Jos Buttler and debutant Dom Bess was real cause for optimism. Both hit well-constructed fifties in a stand which saved England from total humiliation. But the hosts showed, in both innings, that they can throw in a batting collapse which could ultimately drive the Barmy Army insane. England lost five for 16 in the first inning and four for six in the second!
England’s toils were also great credit to an inexperienced Pakistan attack, spearheaded by Mohammad Amir. They bowled a superb line and length, not trying to do anything too spectacular, and using the English conditions far better than their hosts. Hasan Ali and Mohammad Abbas took four wickets each in the first innings as England was skittled for a paltry 184 The lively Abbas made it eight for the match while Amir picked up four in the second innings. You would have had to scour the betting sites to get odds on such a comfortable win.
It was a disciplined and well-coordinated attack, something which the England bowlers need to learn from, and quickly. In contrast, England’s bowling was largely toothless, with the exception of a hostile spell from Ben Stokes in Pakistan’s first innings to take three wickets and injure Babar Azam with a brute of a delivery. Azam was going along nicely on 68 before retiring hurt.
At Lords, we saw all the failings that have seen England slide to fifth in the ICC test rankings with dropped catches to add to the woes of poor bowling and batting collapses. But there’s plenty for England fans to be hopeful about, with a middle order as destructive as any in the world. If Jonny Bairstow, Stokes and Buttler get firing then there will be an almighty explosion.
And Dom Bess can head to Yorkshire with his head held high. It was his batting in the first test which has given him the confidence to succeed despite ending the game wicketless. He needs to show that he can hold his place down as England’s first-choice spinner.
History
It’s only two years since the two teams last met in the UK, and the Three Lions roared to draw the series against Pakistan after defeat at Lords in 2016.
The Three Lions haven’t lost a series at home in four years so defeat at Headingley is unthinkable, but Pakistan have the momentum and it will take a tough reply from Root and his team to stop them.
What are the Odds?
England has the talent for sure, and the smart betting advice must still be a win at Headingly to square the series.
Indeed, Asian Handicap has the hosts priced at 1.50 with Pakistan at 4.00 and the draw at 4.80.
Being highly fancied in both the One Day and T20 World Cups is worth noting of course – Asian Handicap has England 0.00 @ 1.28 with the tourists 0.00 @ 3.50.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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