How Is The England Cricket Team Shaping Up After The First Test?
The England Cricket Team faced Pakistan last week in the first of three test matches between the nations this summer. Despite the rain delays, England produced an outstanding display with both the bat and the ball, skittling the visitors with a comfortable innings and 103 runs victory.
After what has been a somewhat unsettled summer so far for the ECB, with Ben Stokes resignation as captain and the re-appointment of Joe Root to the role, it has been a very positive start to the three Test series against Pakistan.
Robinson and Tongue Torment Pakistan
Despite a long, hot and dry summer, the stormclouds were very much in evidence as the first day of the opening test of the series got underway at Headlingley in Leeds.
After winning the toss, England elected to field with Joe Root putting the visitors in to bat. Things could not have started any better when Azan Awais fell to Ollie Robinson with the very first ball. Shan Masood followed shortly after but Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique (with 42 and 61 respectively) threatened to post a decent score for the visitors.
However, despite rain delays, England took the remaining six wickets for the addition of just 54 runs, leaving the visitors 171 all out. Josh Tongue and Ollie Robinson both picking up five wickets each.
In response, England posted a very healthy total of 409 with Jordan Cos (73), Joe Root (66), Harry Brook (91) and Dan Lawrence (51) all making healthy contributions.
When England finally were bowled out early on the third day, Pakistan needed to post a similar score to England to get back in the test, but they struggled as Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue took three more wickets each, Gus Atkinson one, with Jofra Archer taking the other three as Pakistan were soundly beaten, scoring just 135 in 37.3 overs.
Next Up…Lords On Thursday
There is not a lot of time for Pakistan to regroup with the second test beginning on Thursday this week at Lords. There is then a week’s break for the visitors to regroup before the third and final test at Edgbaston in Birmingham starting on September 9th.
Captain Babar Azam should return for the second test after missing the first, but there is heavy criticism of the current state of the test team.
They have lost five of their last six tests, with 14 defeats from their last 19 and they sit at the very bottom of the World Test Championship table.
Michael Vaughan, former England skipper, stated: “They’ve been absolutely blown away. They’ve been hammered. I’ve never seen them look so timid.”
“The tactical side wasn’t there. The skill level and class between the sides, Pakistan look a long way short.”
Azam’s return will benefit the team, but there seems to be an awful lot more weaknesses in the set up than the return of their captain can offset.
England’s Dream Start for Root
In contrast, England’s victory signalled a fine start to Joe Root’s second spell as England captain. Root was his usual calm self with the bat, but paid credit to England’s bowling attack with Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue, who took three wickets in six balls in the match, particularly impressive.
He also labelled team mate Harry Brook, who top scored for England with 91, as the best player in the world.
With Marcus Trescothick the stand in coach, England will be hoping their fine form with both the bat and ball can continue when they head south to London for Thursday’s first day of the test.
The Lords pitch has been criticised heavily in recent times, so it will be interesting to see how the spell of wetter weather over the last week or so has changed what would have been a hard-baked pitch.
Currently, England are 1/3 to win the second test with bookmakers, with Pakistan 13/2 and 7/2 the draw.
The action begins on Thursday morning this coming week.
