Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Abbas has admitted that the team’s poor run of form is a major concern after Pakistan suffered another defeat against England, extending their disappointing record in Test cricket. Abbas was the last Pakistan batter left at the crease as England completed a convincing victory. Despite his impressive performance with the ball, including a five-wicket haul that earned him a place on the Lord’s honours board, Pakistan once again struggled as a team. “Our performance is a concern for everyone,” Abbas said. “Everyone is worried, including the selection committee and the NCA. We’re not doing well. We accept that. We’re not batting, bowling or fielding well and we discuss this all the time in meetings. We’re all working on it and we need to be, too.” Pakistan’s defeat was less severe than their heavy loss at Headingley in the previous Test, but England remained in control for much of the match. England established a 180-run first-innings lead, leaving Pakistan with a difficult task of recovering. Pakistan’s inability to dismiss England’s lower order once again proved costly. England, who were reduced to 222 for eight, added another 68 runs before being bowled out. Fielding was another major concern for Pakistan, with several missed opportunities contributing to England’s advantage. Pakistan dropped at least four catches during England’s first innings, although substitute Salman Agha produced an excellent catch in the slips. “We dropped catches and their key players scored 70-odd extra runs,” Abbas said. “That’s where the match changed because we could have bowled them out for 200. It’s disappointing.” Abbas Continues to Impress Despite Team’s Struggles While Pakistan have struggled collectively, Abbas has enjoyed a remarkable resurgence in Test cricket. The veteran seamer has taken 28 wickets in his last six Tests at an average of under 19. With Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah struggling to maintain their previous levels of impact in Test cricket, Abbas has increasingly become the experienced leader of Pakistan’s pace attack. However, his personal success has brought little satisfaction because the team has continued to lose. “Individual performances are important, but I try to perform to help the team win,” Abbas said. “It’s been many matches that I’ve been performing but the team hasn’t won.” Abbas also reflected on the years when he was left out of Pakistan’s Test plans. He said he had focused on playing domestic and county cricket rather than worrying about selection decisions. “What was in my hands, I did,” he said. “I played domestic cricket in Pakistan, and county cricket. What was in my hands, I did, and the management at the time did what they thought was best. It’s not in my control whether I get selected.” Pakistan’s Test Record Raises Serious Questions The latest defeat has increased the pressure on Pakistan, who have now suffered 15 losses in their last 20 Test matches. Their away record is even more concerning, with the defeat marking their 10th loss in their last 11 Tests outside Pakistan. Pakistan are also struggling at the bottom of the World Test Championship standings, with few immediate signs of a turnaround. Despite the criticism surrounding the team, Abbas rejected suggestions that the players lacked effort. “This is Test cricket. Every run and wicket gets added to your career. Everybody understands that responsibility and everybody is trying,” he said. He also pointed to the lack of continuity within Pakistan’s playing XI, particularly in the bowling attack. “In Bangladesh, we had a different bowling combination to here. We won a Test in the West Indies. The guys are adjusting, but experience is very important in Test cricket,” Abbas said. He noted that while he has played 32 Tests, the fast bowlers currently playing alongside him are still relatively inexperienced at the international level. “Everybody is trying to improve,” he added. Pace Remains Another Concern Pakistan’s bowling attack has also faced questions over its lack of express pace. Abbas is the slowest of Pakistan’s three main pace bowlers but compensates with accuracy, movement and experience. Mohammad Ali and Khurram Shahzad generally operate in the low-80mph range, leaving Pakistan without the kind of high-speed threat that England possess through Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue. Abbas, however, defended his teammates and stressed that every bowler has different strengths. “Everyone has their own skill,” he said. “I’ve never bowled 140 in my life, so I bowl according to my skill.” He compared bowling partnerships to batting partnerships, stressing the importance of working together as a unit. “The way there’s partnerships when you’re batting, there are partnerships when you’re bowling,” Abbas said. “In Leeds we didn’t bowl like that, but we were a lot better here.” Pakistan may have shown some improvement in the second Test, but it came too late to prevent another series defeat. With the team’s batting, fielding, experience and pace attack all under scrutiny, Pakistan face a difficult task to reverse their fortunes in Test cricket. For Abbas, however, the situation remains largely beyond his control. His individual performances continue to stand out, but without greater contributions from the rest of the team, even his best efforts are unlikely to be enough to change Pakistan’s fortunes.

Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer produced a devastating spell of fast bowling as England seized control of the second Test against Pakistan at Lord’s, securing a commanding 261-run lead by the end of the second day. England, who made 290 in their first innings, bowled Pakistan out for just 110 in 37.2 overs, gaining a substantial 180-run advantage. By stumps, England had reached 81 for 3 in their second innings, with Emilio Gay unbeaten on 30 and Harry Brook on 7. The day produced 13 wickets as England’s pace attack dominated Pakistan’s batting. Robinson was particularly impressive, finishing with outstanding figures of 4 for 11 from 13 overs, including six maidens. His accuracy, movement off the seam and disciplined line made life extremely difficult for Pakistan’s batters. Archer complemented Robinson with raw pace and hostility. The fast bowler repeatedly touched 92-94mph (148-151kph) and finished with 3 for 26 from 11.2 overs, maintaining relentless pressure throughout his spell. England’s Tail Adds Valuable Runs England resumed the day at 248 for 9 after bad light had ended play on the opening evening. Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue frustrated Pakistan for almost an hour, putting together a valuable 47-run partnership for the final wicket. Atkinson eventually fell for a well-made 45 from 46 balls after hitting Ali Usman to long-off. Tongue remained unbeaten on 30 from 48 deliveries as England reached 290, a total that proved far more valuable once their bowlers got to work. Archer and Robinson Rip Through Pakistan Archer struck early after Imam-ul-Haq was ruled unable to bat because of a calf injury sustained while fielding on the first day. Shan Masood, opening in place of Imam, was trapped into an edge behind after Archer delivered a full ball at around 91mph. Archer then subjected Abdullah Shafique to a barrage of short-pitched deliveries, including a 92mph bouncer that struck the batter on the hand as he attempted to evade it. Pakistan survived a few anxious moments, including a dropped chance offered by Azan Awais, but Tongue eventually made the breakthrough when Shafique edged behind to Jamie Smith. Pakistan went to lunch at 16 for 2. Babar Azam, returning to the side after missing the first Test with a hand injury, lasted only eight runs before Tongue had him caught at third slip by Jordan Cox. Robinson then took centre stage. He removed Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan leg before wicket on reviews either side of a brief rain interruption. Archer finally got his reward when Ali Usman chopped a delivery onto his own stumps. The Pakistan batter had struggled throughout against Archer's pace and movement. Awais showed considerable resilience, surviving 106 balls for 46, but Robinson eventually ended his resistance with a bouncer that was pulled to square leg. Robinson then struck again in the same over, having Khurrum Shahzad caught at second slip by Brook. His double strike left Pakistan in deep trouble. Archer narrowly missed out on further wickets when Joe Root failed to hold a difficult chance at leg slip, while Mohammad Ali survived an lbw review after the ball-tracking showed the delivery would have hit the stumps but impact was ruled umpire's call. Archer finally ended the innings in spectacular fashion, knocking Mohammad Abbas' off stump out of the ground with an inswinging delivery. With Imam unable to bat, Pakistan were all out for 110, leaving England with a 180-run first-innings lead. England Lose Three in Second Innings England made a rapid but slightly frenetic start to their second innings. Ben Duckett fell in the second over after picking out mid-off. Cox, who had scored a half-century in England's first innings, struck two boundaries off Abbas before being trapped lbw by Khurrum Shahzad. Pakistan successfully reviewed the decision, giving Shahzad his second wicket in as many overs. Root and Gay then attempted to rebuild the innings. Root survived a tense moment when he was nearly run out after Gay sent him back, while Pakistan also unsuccessfully reviewed an lbw appeal against the England captain. The pair added 47 runs before Root fell to Mohammad Ali's nip-backer. Root reviewed the decision, but the review confirmed the dismissal, extending a worrying sequence for the England captain — he has now been dismissed lbw in seven of his last nine innings. When bad light brought an early end to proceedings shortly before 6:45pm, England were 81 for 3, leading Pakistan by 261 runs overall. With Gay unbeaten and Brook at the crease, England will resume the third day in a commanding position, with Pakistan facing the prospect of a long second innings against an England attack that has already found plenty of pace, movement and bounce at Lord's.

Pakistan are facing a daunting challenge to save the Test at Lord’s after another dramatic batting collapse left them trailing England by a massive margin. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed admitted that Pakistan’s batting remains a major concern after his side were dismissed for just 110 in the first innings. The collapse handed England a 180-run first-innings lead and put Pakistan under severe pressure. After Pakistan’s bowlers had kept the contest alive, England needed barely a session to bowl them out, turning the momentum firmly in their favour. “The batting is a concern,” Sarfaraz said. “In both Tests we haven't batted well. We try to create a combination that strengthens the batting. But unfortunately, that didn't work this innings either.” Pakistan’s batting struggles have been particularly worrying throughout the series. Their scores have declined in each of their three innings, with the team also spending progressively less time at the crease. Sarfaraz urged his batters to show greater patience and determination, highlighting the performance of Azan Awais, who faced 102 deliveries for his team-high score of 46. “The team keeps getting out in 30-odd overs,” Sarfaraz said. “We're unable to spend time at the crease. They're challenging conditions for batters, but you're rewarded if you spend time at the crease.” He stressed the importance of surviving the difficult early period, explaining that the first 30 to 40 balls can be the toughest phase for a batter. “Like Azan did, if you get out of them, you'll find it easier,” he added. “The first hour for a batter requires good technique as a batting unit.” Sarfaraz Calls for More Domestic Cricket With questions being raised about the technique and preparation of Pakistan’s batters, Sarfaraz said players must spend more time playing first-class cricket to improve their skills. “You must play domestic cricket,” he said. “If you're not playing domestic cricket, that's on you. It will always help you.” However, despite Pakistan’s desperate position, Sarfaraz refused to concede defeat. England added another 81 runs before bad light ended play, extending their overall advantage to 261 runs. The Pakistan coach believes there is still a slim possibility of an unlikely comeback if his bowlers can strike quickly. “Strange things happen in cricket, so I'm still hopeful,” Sarfaraz said. “There's still one innings left. If we can get them out in the next 70-80 runs and chase down a target around 300-350, there's a chance.” History Against Pakistan Pakistan’s task, however, is made significantly more difficult by both history and their performances on the current tour. Pakistan have never successfully chased more than 300 in the fourth innings of a Test in England. Moreover, this Pakistan side are yet to score 200 in an innings on the tour. Their batting options have also been weakened by injury, with Imam-ul-Haq ruled out after suffering a calf injury, meaning Pakistan are likely to be forced to play the remainder of the match with a batter short. For Pakistan to escape with a draw from their current position, they would need a remarkable turnaround in both batting and bowling. Sarfaraz’s assessment may sound optimistic, but given the circumstances, a successful Pakistan comeback at Lord’s would indeed be a highly improbable outcome.

Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Ali produced a superb display of seam bowling to put Pakistan in control before Jamie Smith and Jordan Cox mounted a spirited England recovery on a dramatic opening day of the second Test at Lord’s. England finished on 248 for 9 after a day dominated by swing, seam and intermittent bad light. Pakistan, who were beaten by an innings and 103 runs in the first Test at Headingley, showed a significant improvement with both ball and in the field. Abbas was the chief destroyer, finishing with 4 for 56 after ripping through England's top order. Mohammad Ali added three wickets, including the prized dismissals of Harry Brook and Smith, as Pakistan repeatedly exposed England's batting frailties. England were reduced to 36 for 3 after Abbas dismissed Emilio Gay, Ben Duckett and Joe Root. The veteran seamer expertly exploited the overcast conditions, finding movement both through the air and off the pitch. Abbas reached the milestone of 900 first-class wickets when Duckett was given not out lbw but Pakistan captain Babar Azam successfully reviewed the decision. Ball-tracking showed the delivery would have hit the top of off stump. The breakthrough came after Mohammad Rizwan had already produced a sharp catch down the leg side to remove Gay, giving Pakistan an ideal start following their decision to bowl after winning the toss. Root lasted only 13 deliveries before Abbas struck again, trapping him on the back pad. By lunch, Abbas had figures of 3 for 34 and England were in serious trouble. Ali then produced the delivery of the morning. His ball to Harry Brook jagged sharply back into the right-hander, beating his attempted stroke and crashing into the stumps. Brook, who had dominated the first Test with a match-winning innings, was dismissed cheaply. England's recovery began through Cox and Smith. Cox, batting at No. 3 in only his third Test, showed impressive discipline and resilience, putting together important partnerships after England had slipped to 77 for 4. He initially combined with Dan Lawrence before their 43-run stand was ended by a run-out. Lawrence pushed a delivery towards midwicket and set off, only to be sent back by Cox. Shan Masood reacted quickly and threw to Rizwan, leaving Lawrence well short of his ground. Cox continued his excellent run of form, reaching his second half-century in as many Test innings. He struck consecutive boundaries off left-arm spinner Ali Usman to bring up the milestone. Smith then joined him and the pair added 60 from 77 balls, dragging England back into contention. Smith, under pressure after a lean spell with the bat, looked increasingly assured. He reached 44 not out by tea and matched Cox's seven boundaries, offering England the stability they desperately needed. However, Cox's promising innings ended in spectacular fashion. Salman Agha, acting as a substitute fielder at second slip, produced a stunning diving catch to dismiss him for 55. Springing high to his right, Salman held on despite landing heavily after completing an acrobatic grab. Smith continued to attack, bringing up his tenth boundary with a sublime straight drive, but Ali soon produced another brilliant nip-backer. The delivery beat Smith's drive and crashed into his stumps, ending a crucial 61-run innings. Ali struck again only two balls later, producing another sharp delivery that beat Ollie Robinson's defence and left England eight wickets down. Jofra Archer then provided some late entertainment. He took a risky single from his first ball before launching Abbas over long-off for six, briefly raising hopes of a late counterattack. Those hopes ended when Archer attempted another big shot at Abbas and was bowled, giving the seamer his fourth wicket. Pakistan appeared on the verge of completing the innings with one wicket remaining, but bad light intervened just before 6.10pm. Play was eventually abandoned shortly after 6.30pm, leaving England on 248 for 9. After their heavy defeat in Leeds, Pakistan will be delighted with the way they responded at Lord's. Their seamers consistently troubled England, while their fielding was considerably sharper despite a handful of missed opportunities. England, meanwhile, will hope their lower order can add valuable runs when play resumes. With only one wicket remaining, Pakistan will be favourites to finish the innings quickly and take advantage of conditions that have already proved highly productive for their seam attack.

Lord’s has played a familiar role in England’s cricket season, but this year the iconic venue has been at the centre of a turbulent period for the national team. While England’s two men’s Tests at Lord’s have produced plenty of cricketing drama, some of the most significant moments surrounding the team have taken place away from the field. In March, ECB chief executive Richard Gould and managing director Rob Key presented the findings of their review into England’s 4-1 Ashes defeat. The review acknowledged unprofessional behaviour during the tour and stressed that greater consequences would follow as England began a rebuilding phase against New Zealand. Then, in June, Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were involved in a late-night incident following England’s opening Test. Both were subsequently left out of the second Test at The Oval. Stokes announced his retirement from international cricket just three weeks later. Joe Root, who succeeded Stokes as England’s Test captain, has since called for a change in culture after another off-field incident involving Brydon Carse. Carse became the eighth centrally contracted England player to be involved in an after-hours controversy. Ahead of the second Test against Pakistan, Root made his frustration clear. While his public comments were measured, he reportedly delivered a far stronger message to the squad behind closed doors. Root reminded his teammates of the responsibility and privilege that comes with representing England and urged them to become better professionals. He also pointed out that he may have only two years left in the England dressing room, highlighting the limited time the current generation has to learn from his experience. Fast bowler Josh Tongue said Root's message had been direct and underlined the team's desire to create a better environment for the next generation. “It's an absolute privilege to play for England,” Tongue said, stressing his determination to focus on cricket and contribute to victories. Tongue's own response to adversity offers a potential blueprint for his teammates. He was involved in the Wellington incident alongside Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell, although he escaped punishment and was not selected for the ODI squad for the final match of that New Zealand tour. Since then, however, Tongue has transformed his fortunes. He has taken 34 wickets in seven Tests, including 18 against Australia during the Ashes. England's decision to select him only for the final three Ashes Tests now looks like a missed opportunity. The 28-year-old has also made his ODI and T20I debuts under Brook and white-ball coach Brendon McCullum. His impressive Hundred campaign with Manchester Super Giants, where he finished joint-top of the wicket-taking charts with 14 dismissals in a title-winning campaign, has further strengthened his credentials. Tongue now finds himself among England's most valuable fast bowlers and enters his 14th international cap with the team likely to remain unchanged. For a player who debuted in 2023, his record also carries a surprising statistic: he has never been part of an England Test series victory. Injuries kept him out of the 2024 home summer, when England won series against West Indies and Sri Lanka. A series win would therefore represent another important milestone for Tongue, while also giving England the chance to move forward on the field after a difficult period away from it. England's last Test series victory came in December 2024 in New Zealand. Now, with Lord’s once again providing the backdrop, the team will hope that Root's call for professionalism can translate into performances and a much-needed step towards redemption.

Babar Azam is set to return to Pakistan's playing XI and captain the side at Lord's, after recovering sufficiently from the hand injury that kept him out of the opening Test at Headingley. The Pakistan captain said he was 90% fit ahead of the second Test and was confident he would be ready to take the field. "I had a couple of practice sessions," Babar said. "I'm 90% fit for tomorrow and the rest of the series." Babar has been carefully managed during his recovery. Pakistan fast-bowling coach Umar Gul said the batter faced pace in the nets on Tuesday, although much of his recent batting practice has come against throwdowns. In the final session before the Test, Babar faced throwdowns and spin but did not face fast bowling. His return nevertheless represents a significant boost for a Pakistan batting line-up that struggled badly in the first Test. Pakistan Look to Recover From Headingley Collapse Pakistan suffered a heavy three-day defeat at Headingley, with their batting collapsing twice inside 86 overs. Their first innings was particularly damaging as they slipped from 97 for 2 to 171 all out, losing their final eight wickets for just 64 runs. Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique had initially given Pakistan hope with a 91-run partnership, but neither batter was able to convert their starts into substantial scores. Babar acknowledged that Pakistan had been below their best in every department and stressed the need for greater partnerships and responsibility from the batting unit. "You need to produce complete team performances," he said. "You have to bowl and bat in partnerships. And you have to take it deep as a batter if you're set." The return of Babar is expected to strengthen a middle order that has struggled to absorb pressure, but the captain knows his presence alone will not solve Pakistan's batting problems. Shafique to Retain His Position Abdullah Shafique is expected to continue in his current batting position rather than moving up the order to accommodate Babar's return. Shafique has been one of Pakistan's few consistent performers recently, scoring 260 runs at an average of 130 across his last four innings. Azan Awais is expected to make way as Pakistan reshuffle their batting line-up. Babar backed Shafique to remain where he has been most comfortable. "The number Abdullah is batting, he should [continue to] play there," Babar said. "He's batted three and four since his comeback. He's got confidence there so he'll continue there." The Pakistan captain also called on the senior batters to prevent the kind of rapid collapses that undermined their performance at Headingley. "We need to [stamp out] the back-to-back wickets we lose. The senior batters need to be more focused and make up for it." Babar to Lead Pakistan at Lord's The second Test will be a significant occasion for Babar, as he prepares to lead Pakistan at Lord's for the first time. This is his third tour of England, and he was appointed Pakistan captain shortly after the team's previous visit in 2020. He will become the 15th Pakistan captain to lead the side at Lord's. "When you lead the Pakistan side on this ground, it's an honour," Babar said. "I do my best on the field as captain and when I'm batting, I just play my game." Pakistan will hope their strong record at Lord's can help them put the disappointment of Headingley behind them. "Our stats here are good and we'd like to continue that," Babar said. "We will forget about the first Test and are looking forward to this one." With their captain back and their batting order reshuffled, Pakistan will be aiming for a much more disciplined performance at Lord's and a chance to level the series.