Babar Azam declares himself 90 per cent fit for Lord's Test after finger injury recovery

Pakistan captain Babar Azam will return to lead his side at Lord's from August 27 after recovering from a finger injury that forced him to miss the opening Test of the series. Salman Ali Agha captained Pakistan during the first Test at Headingley, where England secured a dominant victory by an innings and 103 runs, dismissing Pakistan for 171 and 135 in their two innings.

The injury was initially sustained during Pakistan's West Indies tour and was later aggravated when Babar was struck on the hand during a warm-up match against County Select XI at Beckenham in England.

Babar underwent a period of rehabilitation and participated in practice sessions ahead of the Lord's fixture. His recovery progressed sufficiently to allow him to declare his readiness for the second Test. The captain's return comes at a critical juncture for Pakistan after the heavy defeat at Headingley, with the series still to be decided.

"I’ve had a couple of practice sessions again and I’m 90 per cent fit for the match tomorrow," Babar was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times on the eve of the second Test.

Babar's England record offers hope for Pakistan

Babar's record in England provides encouragement for Pakistan's recovery hopes. Across six Test innings in England, he has averaged 65.75 with three half-centuries, demonstrating his ability to perform on English pitches. Against England overall, his career average stands at 53.83 from 14 innings, during which he has scored one century and six fifties. His consistency on English soil suggests he possesses the technical foundation to succeed at Lord's.

Babar's form in the preceding West Indies series underlined his readiness for the challenge ahead. He accumulated 193 runs across the tour, showcasing consistency in the lead-up to the England assignment. His presence at the crease will be vital as Pakistan attempt to level the series and restore momentum after the Headingley setback.

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After the drubbing in Headingley, Babar will have to inspire his troops and if he performs well with the bat, it will serve as a shot in the arm for the visiting side.