Babar's Lord's return fuels Pakistan's Eng Pak fightback
Babar Azam is set to return as Pakistan captain for the Eng Pak second Test at Lord's after missing the Headingley thrashing, with his form and presence cast as the visitors' main hope of keeping the series alive. He has promised different cricket after England's innings-and-103-run win.
Key Takeaways
- Babar Azam reported roughly 90% fitness and is expected to captain Pakistan at Lord's after a finger injury kept him out of Headingley.
- England lead the three-match Eng Pak series 1-0 following an innings-and-103-run victory, bowling Pakistan out for 171 and 135.
- Babar has four fifties in his last four Tests but no hundred since December 2022; he averages 65.75 across six England innings.
- Day one at Lord's opened under gloomy skies with the toss delayed, adding weather uncertainty to an already tense contest.
Why does Babar's Lord's return matter for Eng Pak?
Pakistan's collapse in Leeds left little to cling to beyond Babar's comeback. He sat out the opening Test while recovering from a finger injury, watching England dismantle the tourists before tea on day three.
According to ESPNcricinfo, his return has become Pakistan's "game within a game": a star batter seeking Lord's limelight while a struggling side needs a statement innings to stay competitive.
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What did Babar say ahead of the Lord's Test?
Facing English media scrutiny, Babar leaned into Pakistan's reputation for responding when written off. "You can expect anything because whenever things are like this, as a team we always step up and play differently," he said.
He did not dodge the Headingley failure. "We accept that we didn't play well in the last match, but we promise that we will play different cricket this time," the captain added, refusing to blame conditions or missing players alone.
Pakistan must win at Lord's—where they have not played since 2018—to keep the series alive. Babar's presence is expected to reshape selection, potentially pushing Azan Awais out while Shan Masood or Abdullah Shafique open.
Can Babar's form reverse Pakistan's SENA slump?
His last Test century was in December 2022, yet recent output is steadier: four fifties in four Tests after averaging only 24 across the prior two years. In England he averages 65.75 in six innings and 53.83 against England overall.
That history sits against a grim away record: Pakistan have lost all six SENA Tests since 2022, and Headingley's eight-for-74 first-innings slide looked technical, not temporary. A short ball from Ben Stokes broke Babar's forearm on his 2018 Lord's debut after a stylish 68; this week offers a rare second act on cricket's most storied stage.
Whether a returning captain can turn folklore into a fightback is the Eng Pak subplot Lord's will settle—if the weather allows play to begin.