Pakistan captain Babar Azam is very likely to play in the second Test against England after taking part in a full batting session on Tuesday.
Babar likely to return
As confirmed by Pakistan’s bowling coach, Babar looked good as he faced both pacers and spinners in the nets. While his inclusion wasn’t confirmed by Gul, having a full training session brings plenty of positive signs for Babar’s return.
“Babar batted in the nets, faced fast bowlers, spinners and throwdowns,” Gul said. “We’re hopeful he will be available for the game and today he was looking good; he batted well in the nets. He had a full batting session.”
Babar Azam missed Pakistan’s first Test match against England as he failed to recover from his finger injury in time for the game. Playing against Professional County Club Select XI, Babar hurt his right index finger when a delivery from Hampshire fast bowler Manny Lumsden struck his hand.
This, incidentally, was the same hand that picked up an impact during the second Test against West Indies, and the latest hit was understood to have worsened it.
Pakistan had to pay heavily for Babar’s absence as they suffered an innings defeat against England, having scored only 306 runs across both innings in response to England’s 409 in one innings. Stand-in captain Salman Ali Agha was already done with leading the side in red-ball cricket and joked about counting the time until Babar is handed the reins back after the chastening defeat.
Gul urges Pakistan to learn from mistakes
Beginning the series at Headingley, where England hadn’t played a Test match since 2017, Pakistan wouldn’t have expected to get off to a win. But the sort of drubbing that they got would have been unimaginable for them either. The pacers could not stand up to the occasion and exploit the assistance on offer, which was obviously bound to hurt Pakistan.
At Lord’s again, Pakistan’s fate would rest largely on how their pacers fare.
“We’ll have to learn from the mistakes we made in the previous game. If you want to win a Test match, you have to perform in all departments. One can’t be carrying the other. But in these conditions, the responsibility lies more with the bowlers. Until you take 20 wickets, you can’t win a Test match.
“The players trained today with full intensity. I’m pretty sure the boys will bounce back properly here.”
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