England vs Pakistan, 2nd Test, Pakistan tour of England 2026 - CommentaryENG vs PAK, 2nd Test, Pakistan tour of England 2026 - Commentary

Two convincing wins and Joe Root's new term as England's captain has begun really well. But he'll be the first to accept that his team and his captaincy was never tested, neither at Headingley nor here at Lord's. Pakistan were abject in both games and it's the batting which has let their team down. They'd have had some hopes with Babar Azam's return, but the skipper ended the match with scores of 6 and 8 - 14 in all, his lowest aggregate in a Test since January 2025, when batting in both innings. Conditions were admittedly tough, but they didn't give themselves a chance. It didn't help that Imam-ul-Haq was ruled out with a calf tear, but they were clearly second best across all three departments of the game. They've been battered and bruised, can they avoid a series whitewash in Birmingham? We've a break and we'll all be back on the 9th of September for the final Test of the English summer. For now, cheers and bye..

Stats update by Shashikant Singh

Most wins as England captain vs Asian teams
15* - Joe Root (25 mats)
14 - Andrew Strauss (22)
12 - AlastairCook (30)
7 - Nasser Hussain (17)
7 - Ben Stokes (15)

304 runs match aggregate is Pakistan’s sixth-lowest in a Test on England soil. In the previous Test at Leeds, they aggregated just 306 runs.

Fewest balls played by PAK in a Test (for 20 wkts)
419 vs ENG, Lord’s, 2010
460 vs NZ, Hamilton, 2001
498 vs ENG, Nottingham, 2010
514 vs ENG, Leeds, 2026
529 vs ENG, Lord’s, 2026*

The false-shot percentage in this Test is 32.7% - the second-highest in a Test in England since ball-by-ball data is available, behind 32.9% in the ENG-SA match at The Oval in 2022.

This is the first time in their Test history Pakistan have been bowled out for under 200 in four successive innings.

Pakistan have gone winless in their last 18 Tests in SENA countries since 2018, losing 16 and drawing two. Their last such win came at Lord’s in May 2018.

Pakistan lost at Lord’s for the first time since 2010, after consecutive Test wins here in 2016 and 2018. Pakistan’s last Test series win in England came in 1996.

This is England’s first multi-Test series win since December 2024. England have won their last five Tests at Lord’s; their last defeat came here in the 2023 Ashes.

Joe Root | England Captain - [On winning the series and the convincing nature of the performance] It does feel good and I guess the way that we’ve done it as well, I think it’s been pretty convincing. The guys have played some really good cricket in some difficult conditions, especially with the bat. I think the guys have adapted really well to what’s been thrown at them. They’ve found a really good tempo on different surfaces and managed to get some really good scores in the conditions that we’ve had. Then the bowling group, I mean, three guys that can bowl 90 mile an hour and Ollie Robinson, who looks horrendous in these conditions. So they complement each other really nicely. They’re growing all the time. The more games that we get together, the more times that we spend out there on the field, the more we’ll learn about each other and how that looks, how that works, for me as captain, for them as players. So a lot really good stuff to take to West Indies as well. [On the batting performances, particularly recovering from 80 for 4] I think regardless of the conditions, when you find yourself 80 for 4, the mentality and the way that the guys approached the back half of that innings and getting us to the score that we did was outstanding. Some brilliant partnerships there and Dan (Lawrence) in particular and Emilio (Gay) yesterday, I thought two very different ways of going about it, but very significant runs for us and put us in a really strong position. The amount of runs there was always going to be tricky on that surface for them to chase down and with the bowlers bowling the way they are and the conditions being as they are, that was enough for us. So brilliant to see those guys coming in, Cox as well backing up a brilliant start at Headingley. A lot of really good things to build on, and nice way obviously to start this series. [On what he wants to see in the final Test at Birmingham] I think more of the same and again, regardless of what the conditions are, making sure that we try and find the right method that’s going to suit that, whether it be with bat, with ball, understanding what’s required of us and being skillful enough to execute it. If we can keep adapting and evolving to those challenges, then we’re going to be a pretty hard team to break down.

Babar Azam | Pakistan Captain: [On reflecting on Pakistan’s performance in the Test match] I think we won the toss and then we are bowling first, so we are trying to utilize the conditions because of overcast. So we utilize and we take early wickets and I think we take them to 290. Then in the batting we are not up to the mark. Then second innings again we bowling first and I think the way Pakistan bowling, outstanding spell. (Abbas) Took five wickets and then batting again collapsed. So I think the way Saud playing, he’s showing class and dedication and it was tremendous. [On whether there was anything he would change after England were 80 for 4 on the first morning] To be honest, no. We just follow our plans and just even both sides, bowling and batting, we just follow our plans and build a partnership in both sides. But unfortunately they have built a partnership in the batting. I think all credit to England. [On Mohammad Abbas taking five wickets at Lord’s and going onto the honours board] Yeah, wonderful. As a team, wonderful, Abbas in Lord’s, especially to take five wickets, I think it’s a memorable moment for him. [On what Pakistan need to improve for the final Test at Edgbaston] To be honest, we’re trying to do our best more in both sides, batting and bowling, because we have an opportunity but we did not grab it properly. We just sniff a little bit in the batting and bowling, so we’re trying to do better in last match.

Ollie Robinson | Player of the Match - [On taking eight wickets in the series and his success at this ground] I think the slope always has something to offer, even when it goes a little bit flatter, I think you’ve still got a little bit there with the slope and the pitch is quite helpful as a spinner. For me, it was a great pitch just to keep stumps in play either way and it’s just nice to contribute to a win. [On his recent run of Player of the Match awards and the key to his form] I think the consistency. I think I’ve had a few starts, a few injuries, playing back-to-back Test this time again. It’s nice that the body’s come through it well. I’ve just tried to hone in my skills really, be as consistent as possible. It helps when you’ve got three guys that bowl 90 as well. It allows me just to settle into the rhythm, dot up and then build that pressure and together, the four-man attack we’ve got, I think it’s going to be very successful. [On his role alongside the other three fast bowlers] No, I don’t think so. I think, if anything, it allows me to be a bit more defensive, if anything and just hold and not have to try and punch through the batters. I can just hold and be very patient, and Jofra and the guys bowl rapid and sort of just break the up with the other end. It’s quite a nice pairing to open the bowling with someone who bowls 90 and swings it the other way for me. So long may it continue.

17:49 Local Time, 16:49 GMT, 22:19 IST: The result was a foregone conclusion at the start of play today, but Pakistan needed to show something for their own good. The batting has been shambolic right through the tour and unfortunately for them, it didn't get any better today. Set an unlike 389 for a series-levelling win, they crumbled to 14 for 3 in no time. Saud Shakeel has had a lean time and some of his technical weaknesses had been exposed in this series, but he came out determined to make a mark. He dominated the 97-run 4th wicket stand with Shan Masood and then started to throw his bat around with the tail. The left-hander played with freedom and seemed to relish taking on the short ball, until falling to the short ball on 97. Unfortunately for Pakistan, his score made up for 50% of the team total as the rest fell around. Imam-ul-Haq didn't bat once again and the writing was on the wall. Ollie Robinson was magical with his 4-wicket burst, Tongue cleaned up the tail and finished with three while Archer took 2 wickets. Stay tuned for the presentations..

Josh Tongue to Mohammad Ali, THATS OUT!! Caught!!