ENG vs PAK, 2nd Test, Preview: Troubled hosts seek inspiration as Pakistan chase history

England and Pakistan will face off in the second and final Test match at Headingley in Leeds as the visitors eye a historic series victory. It was all one-way traffic at Lord’s last week when the seamers of Pakistan strangled the batsmen as the record of the hosts at the venue continued to get worse. England will somehow need to find a way to get past the bowling attack of the opposition. However, it will not be easy for them as they will be charged up totally to crush them and clinch the Test series for the first time since 1996.

Joe Root has been facing a lot of problems ever since he has led the team Down Under last year. His decisions at the toss have come under the scanner, one of which was opting to bat first on a green wicket in the last game. His captaincy and the field placements are the aspects which the former cricketers are not liking at all and he will have to get out of the rut of scoring 50s only. In the second innings at Lord’s, he looked good to reach the three-figure before an inswinging delivery of Mohammad Abbas caught him in front of the stumps.

Sarfraz Ahmed, on the other hand, will be a happy captain courtesy of his bowlers doing the job perfectly. Though he will need the top order to put their hands up and make amends in this game. It will be important for them to take more responsibility in the absence of Babar Azam who was ruled out of the series after being hit on the wrist. Sarfraz himself will have to lead from the front with the bat down the order after playing a rash shot in the first innings which almost handed the advantage to their opposition.

Playing Combination

England

England is facing all sorts of problems ahead of the must-win Test match. Keaton Jennings is set to replace Mark Stoneman at the top of the order even as Ben Stokes is doubtful for the game. He felt his left hamstring during the fielding drills and Sam Curran has been called up to the squad as cover. Also, Chris Woakes might come back as the conditions in Leeds are likely to suit his seam and swing bowling. Mark Wood should make way for him but even he might play in case Stokes is deemed unfit.

Probable XI: Keaton Jennings, Alastair Cook, Joe Root (c), Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Ben Stokes/Mark Wood, Jos Buttler, Chris Woakes, Dominic Bess, Stuart Broad, James Anderson

Pakistan

Pakistan, unfortunately, will have to make a forced change to their line-up with Babar Azam being ruled out of the side. He will be replaced by either Fakhar Zaman or Saad Ali in the middle-order. There won’t be any more changes unless there is a last-minute injury to any player. The team management will be hoping that the same group continues to play the way they did at the Lord’s.

Probable XI: Azhar Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Fakhar Azam/Saad Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed (c &wk), Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas

Focus will be on

Alastair Cook (England)

The veteran needs to stand up big time when his team is in tatters. Alastair Cook was the only one who showed nerves of steel in the first innings and scored 70 runs before getting out to a peach of a delivery from Amir. Though his familiar woes came to the fore again in the second attempt and were caught plumb in front with the new ball. England needs their big match player to amass runs at will like he was doing a few years ago. He will have to play a long innings and hold one end to frustrate the visitors.

Hasan Ali (Pakistan)

Hasan Ali replaced Rahat Ali for the first Test match and he made an immediate impact by taking 4 wickets in the first innings. But he faded away soon in the next innings and failed to pick even a single wicket after delivering 19 overs. His line and length were disturbed after going for a few runs. It is important for him to not lose his patience soon and should keep bowling in the corridor of uncertainty consistently to reap rich rewards. Test cricket is all about having patience and the youngster will surely look to improve in this game.

Head to Head

Played- 82, England- 24, Pakistan- 21, Draw- 37

In England

Played- 52, England- 22, Pakistan- 12, Draw- 18

Stat Attack

85 – Joe Root needs only 85 runs to complete 6000 runs in the longest format of the game.

154 – The Test match in Leeds will be 154th consecutive Test match for Alastair Cook in England’s playing XI. He will break Allan Border’s record of 153 consecutive Test match appearances (for Australia) for a single team.

Broadcast details

TV– Sony Six, Sony Six HD

Online– Sony LIV

Match Timings: 15:30 IST, 10:00 GMT

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