Swing battery boosts England

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England were under the pump going into the second Test against Pakistan. Alistair Cook admitted players were playing for their careers, while coach Trevor Bayliss conceded he was “almost at a loss” to explain England’s Test woes, which prompted captain Joe Root to launch a stern defence of the Australian. A lot was riding on day one of the second Test on Friday 1 June, as the hosts looked to avoid further embarrassment.

Fortunately, their seam battery, armed with debutant Sam Curran and the recalled Chris Woakes, did the job – led, inevitably, by the immoveable forces of Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad, who all contributed to bundling Pakistan out for 174, before England compiled 106/2 to trail Pakistan by 68 runs in their first innings.

The overhead conditions in Yorkshire – bright sunshine – pointed to a good a day for batting, which Sarfraz Ahmed duly opted to do having won the toss. But Broad, who was under a little bit of pressure going into this match, despite his formidable record at home, bowled aggressive lengths and got the ball to talk, as Pakistan’s top and middle order lost wickets in regular intervals.

Broad removed Azhar Ali lbw before Pakistan had recorded a run, and then had Imam-ul-Haq caught behind courtesy of a smart catch by Joe Root in the slips. It was the confidence boost England so desperately needed.

After a mini rebuilding job, Woakes got two further breakthroughs before lunch, removing Haris Sohail and Asid Shafiq with snicks to the slips – the former grabbed by Dawid Malan and the latter by a juggling Cook, whose slip fielding has come under scrutiny in recent times. The catch, which made it 62/4, cued a cheeky but relieved grin from the former England captain.

Debutant Curran was also introduced. He’s not quick, nor does he have the physical stature of many fast bowlers – he carries a youthful exuberance reminiscent of a young Joe Root – but he swung it like his elders.

After lunch, Anderson dismissed Sarfraz via a full, swinging delivery that castled into middle stump, which made it 78/5. England, in a position of strength, needed to be ruthless.

Broad (3/38) carried England’s momentum forward when he trapped Usman Salahuddin lbw, and England were not left to rue Malan’s spilt chance in the slips – Joe Root made an unwelcome dive in-front of him – as Anderson removed Fahim Ashraf soon after, to make it 79/7.

Then came a revival from the tourists as Shadab Khan and Mohammad Amir, and then Shadab and Hassan Ali, contributed an entertaining late-innings flurry, as they set about denting the host's new-found confidence.

Amir feathered one to Bairstow off the bowling of Anderson (3/43), while Woakes (3/55) removed Hassan for 24 with a caught and bowled, but Shadab continued his exploits, making it three fifties in successive Tests.

Pakistan’s No.7 – 56 from 53 deliveries – eventually fell to young Curran, who had him caught in the deep by the recalled Keaton Jennings for his first Test scalp.

Jennings and Cook got England off to a commanding start. The former had to adjust after being warned by the umpire that he was damaging the protected part of the pitch, as he batted comfortably out of his crease to negate the swing. Pakistan were not getting the ball to hoop as much as England’s bowlers, though.

The openers got past the fifty-mark unscathed, but Jennings fell soon after, caught behind off the bowling of Fahim. Root played freely in his new role at No.3, as Cook plodded on in typical resolute fashion. For all the tension that had been surrounding the England camp before this Test, these two looked like they were enjoying life again.

Cook did fall, however, just before his fifty, caught behind off Hassan in the final fifteen minutes of proceedings, to add a minor smudge to an otherwise successful day for England. Dom Bess, who wasn't required with the ball in Pakistan's first innings, was sent in as nightwatchman, and remained alongside his skipper at stumps.

Storm clouds are forecast for parts of tomorrow, but that is unlikely to dampen the host's spirit. They outplayed Pakistan on day one in Headingley, with the type of performance the home crowd expected to see at Lord’s.

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