DNA
LONDON: Pakistan have decided to bowl first after winning the toss against England in the second Test of the three-match series at Lord’s Cricket Ground on Thursday.
Green Shirts have made a significant change to their line-up, with Babar Azam returning to the side after missing the first Test at Headingley, while stand-in captain Salman Ali Agha has been dropped.
England and Pakistan have faced each other 93 times in Test cricket, with England winning 31 matches and Pakistan securing 23 victories, while 39 encounters have ended in draws.
Pakistan have enjoyed a strong record in London in recent years, winning their last three Tests against England in the capital. They defeated England at Lord’s in 2016 and 2018 before also securing victory at The Oval in 2016.
England have also won two of their last five red-ball matches. However, they will enter the second Test with considerable confidence following their commanding innings-and-103-run victory over Pakistan in the opening Test.
With momentum on their side and an impressive all-round performance in the first match, the Three Lions will be aiming to maintain their dominance and seal the series in style.
Playing XI
Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Azan Awais, Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam (c), Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Ali Usman, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali and Mohammad Abbas.
England: Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jordan Cox, Joe Root (c), Harry Brook, Dan Lawrence, Jamie Smith (wk), Ollie Robinson, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue.
