Match Preview: England vs Pakistan- 2nd Test
What's the story
Pakistan will aim to whitewash the two-match Test series against England, when these two sides face each other at Headingley in Leeds on June 1. The visitors go into the game with confidence after their all-round show in the first Test. England are in a position of bother and their batsmen need to come out strong if they want a fighting chance.
Parched
England's batsmen in search of runs
England's batting form, in recent Tests, has been a worrying factor. In the first Test at Lord's, England managed to score 184 and 242 runs in the two innings, which included only four fifties. Batsmen have seen runs getting dried up and even the best batsmen like Cook and Root aren't getting hundreds. We had seen the same story against New Zealand as well.
Pacers
Pakistan pace quartet an ominous factor
Pakistan pacers were in a different dimension in the first Test after running through the opposition. The duo of Amir and Abbas went on to claim 13 wickets between them. Abbas was the star of the show after ending with 8 wickets. The pace battery will, once again, hope to bowl the right lengths and rip apart the Englishmen.
Top
James Anderson the key for England
James Anderson picked a total of 4 wickets at Lord's and will need to better his show. He has been England's in-form pacer and has picked 43 wickets in the last 10 Tests including the one against Pakistan. He is the leader of the attack. Notably, he recently cited that England will be using all their skills and heart to stage a comeback.
Information
Conditions and pitch report
As per reports, rain is expected to greet Leeds for the first two days that will cause interruptions quite a few times. The pitch will assist pacers with swing especially when there is no rain. The match will start at 3:30 PM IST.
Stokes injury
Stokes to undergo scans, Sam Curran drafted in
England all-rounder Ben Stokes is doubtful for the 2nd Test and left-arm seam bowler Sam Curran has been called up as his cover. Stokes is believed to have suffered a hamstring injury during a session and will undergo a fitness test before the match starts on Friday. Sam Curran could take the field in his debut Test if Stokes does not make it.
Squad news
A look at the England and Pakistan squads
England: Joe Root (captain), Mark Stoneman, Alastair Cook, Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow (wicket-keeper), Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Dom Bess, Mark Wood, Sam Curran Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain and wicket-keeper), Azhar Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Sami Aslam, Haris Sohail, Fakhar Zaman, Saad Ali, Asad Shafiq, Usman Salahuddin, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali, Rahat Ali, Faheem Ashraf.