LONDON: Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and elected to field first in the rain-affected Pakistan vs England second Test at Lord’s on Thursday, making his return to the side after missing the series opener with a finger injury.
Babar was ruled out of the first Test at Headingley after aggravating a finger problem during a warm-up match. He had said on Wednesday that he was around 90% fit, but confirmed his return to the playing XI after recovering sufficiently to take the field at Lord’s.
“Overcast conditions, pitch with grass on it,” Babar said after winning the toss, explaining his decision to bowl first.
Pakistan have made one change to the side that suffered a heavy defeat in the opening Test. Babar replaces Salman Agha, while the rest of the team remains unchanged.
England, meanwhile, have retained the same XI that defeated Pakistan by an innings and 103 runs at Headingley.
England captain Joe Root said he would also have chosen to bowl first had he won the toss, but backed his team to post a strong first-innings total.
“It looks a pretty good pitch, though very different to last time,” Root said. “Get some runs on the board and, as we did last week, assess the situation.”
The match follows England’s dominant performance in the series opener, where they bowled Pakistan out for 171 and 135 to secure a commanding victory and take a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.
Pakistan will look to Babar’s return to strengthen a batting order that struggled badly in Leeds. The captain brings substantial experience in English conditions and has previously enjoyed success at Lord’s.
The second Test was initially delayed by morning rain, with the toss pushed back as ground staff waited for improved conditions.
Pakistan must now produce a much stronger performance to prevent England from taking an unassailable 2-0 lead, while England will aim to maintain the momentum that gave them such a decisive advantage in the opening Test.
Pakistan XI: Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood, Azan Awais, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Nawaz, Salman? [Note: Salman Agha has been replaced by Babar], Mohammad Abbas, Ali Usman, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali/Ubaid Shah.
England XI: Unchanged from the first Test.
