The first day of the English summer was eventful as Pakistan’s bowlers bowled England out for just 184 runs. In reply, Pakistan ended the day at 50-1. While this was somewhat expected given the lineups of both sides, fans of both teams remain optimistic about their chances.
England’s limited-overs team is leading World cricket with its aggressive brand of play, but the same cannot be said about their Test side, which has struggled significantly over the past 18 months. Since their tour of India in November 2016 until May 2018, England’s brand of Test cricket has not lived up to the expectations of their fans.
Despite changes in leadership and the batting lineup, the team has failed to find solutions to its struggles. The batting order remains brittle, with multiple changes during this period still leaving it unsettled. Mark Stoneman and David Malan’s places are up for grabs, while Alistair Cook and Joe Root seem overburdened and in need of support from younger players.
On the first day, England’s fragile batting order was exposed as they were skittled for a paltry score, with even their all-rounders unable to save them. Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow have been crucial in bailing the team out on numerous occasions recently, but there are limits to their contributions. Jos Buttler also failed on his return, raising questions about England’s decision to play with only four batsmen, two of whom are struggling.
The bowling has been less of a concern, but England has failed to find a reliable third seamer and a proper spinner to take wickets. Mark Wood and Chris Woakes have not provided adequate support to James Anderson and Stuart Broad. In the spin department, Moeen Ali has been out of form after a disappointing summer with the ball down under, while Jack Leach impressed on debut but got injured before he could solve England’s long-term spin conundrum.
Twenty-year-old Dominic Bess, who has impressed in the county circuit by picking up 63 wickets in 16 matches at an average of just 22.49, is an unknown quantity. Ed Smith selected Somerset’s off-spinner in the hope that he could solve one of the many riddles in this English side.
Pakistan, on the other hand, have just begun their life without Misbah and Younis. Since their retirements, they have played only two Tests in 12 months against Sri Lanka and Ireland, respectively. The next 12 months are crucial for the green caps as they are scheduled to play 11 Tests.
The first day at Lord’s was promising, but as we all know, it’s hard to predict the most unpredictable side in the world, especially in batting. Youngsters like Imam-ul-Haq, Haris Sohail, and Babar Azam need to assure that they are long-term prospects. It is very important that seniors like Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, and Sarfaraz Ahmed act as able guides and lead these freshers during this tough tour and the upcoming challenges.
The bowling unit looks more settled with the likes of Mohammad Abbas and Hasan Ali providing strong support to Mohammad Amir. However, Amir’s own talk of cutting down the burden of international cricket to prolong his career, along with his fragile knee, has been a concern. Faheem Ashraf has been included with the aim of finding an all-rounder, a role Pakistan has missed since Abdur Razzaq. Shadab Khan’s flair is also desperately needed in the absence of the ever-reliable Yasir Shah.
Both these young sides will undergo severe scrutiny from the media, fans, and experts in the coming weeks. The question is, which one of the two will emerge as the winner, not just in terms of this series but for long-term prospects.