Pakistan’s ongoing struggles in the Test series against England reached a new low at Lord’s, where the touring side was bundled out for just 110 runs in their first innings. The dismal performance, which saw the visitors lose their final wickets inside 38 overs, has drawn sharp criticism from former England skipper
The return of captain Babar Azam failed to provide the stability Pakistan desperately needed following their heavy defeat by an innings and 53 runs in the opening Test. Babar managed only eight runs before falling, while fellow top-order batters Abdullah Shafique and Shan Masood contributed just five and one respectively. Although opener Azan Awais provided a brief period of resistance with a top score of 46, the rest of the order crumbled, with Mohammad Rizwan also departing for seven.
Vaughan questions Test-match credentials
Speaking on BBC Test Match Special, Vaughan did not hold back in his assessment of the visitors' approach, suggesting that England’s bowlers were facing virtually no threat. He noted that the ease with which the hosts were claiming wickets had turned the contest into a one-sided affair, with England’s bowlers seemingly eager to pad their statistics against a fragile opposition.
Vaughan remarked that the England bowlers were not being challenged, stating that the current Pakistan lineup was arguably the easiest he had seen to bowl against in a significant amount of time. He added that the lack of pressure from the batters meant England’s bowlers were essentially queuing up to take wickets, confident that no one in the opposition would cause them any damage or force them to work for extended periods in the field.
Comparison to county standards
The former captain went as far as to compare the quality of Pakistan’s batting to that of a second-division county side, casting doubt on whether the current unit meets the necessary standards for international Test cricket. He argued that because Pakistan appeared incapable of posting substantial totals, England’s bowlers were able to maintain high intensity, knowing they would only be required to field for 40 to 50 overs.
The situation for the tourists was further complicated by an injury to opener Imam-ul-Haq, who was unable to bat in the first innings after sustaining a calf strain while fielding. With England finishing the second day at 81/3 in their second innings—extending their overall lead to 261 runs—the pressure is mounting on Pakistan to find a dramatic turnaround to remain competitive in the remainder of the match.
