Pakistan-England second Test begins today

LONDON: Pakistan and England will renew their Test rivalry at Lord's on Thursday, with the visitors looking to bounce back from a heavy defeat in the opening match and level the three-Test series. England lead the series 1-0 after winning the Headingley Test by an innings and 103 runs. The second Test at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground runs from August 27 to 31, with the third and final match scheduled for September 9 at Edgbaston. Pakistan's preparations have centred on fixing the batting collapse that contributed heavily to their defeat in Leeds. Captain Babar Azam, who missed the first Test because of a finger injury, has returned to training and declared himself around 90 per cent fit for the Lord's contest. Speaking ahead of the match, Babar acknowledged that Pakistan had identified several mistakes from the series opener. He stressed that the team could not afford to lose wickets in clusters after establishing partnerships. 'We need to learn from those mistakes,' Babar said, emphasising that responsibility must be shared across the batting unit rather than resting on one player. The Pakistan captain also highlighted the need for established batters to convert starts into substantial scores. He said the team could not expect the bowlers to do all the work by taking 20 wickets while the batters failed to contribute enough. Babar's expected return provides Pakistan with an important boost. He has an impressive record in England, averaging 65.75 on English soil, while he averages 53.83 against England across 14 Test innings. Lord's could also offer Pakistan a psychological advantage. The visitors have won their last two Tests against England at the venue, in 2016 and 2018. Overall, Pakistan have recorded five Test victories at Lord's. England, however, enter the match with considerable confidence after their dominant performance in Leeds. Joe Root's side will need only another strong showing to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. For Pakistan, the equation is much simpler: defeat at Lord's would hand England the series, while victory would bring the contest level and give the visitors a chance to fight for the series in Birmingham. With Babar expected back and Pakistan determined to correct their batting errors, the Lord's Test promises a crucial response from the visitors — and a major test of whether they can turn lessons from Headingley into results. We welcome your contributions! Submit your blogs, opinion pieces, press releases, news story pitches, and news features to opinion@minutemirror.com.pk and minutemirrormail@gmail.com