England face what feels like one of their biggest Test matches in recent memory on Friday when they head to Leeds to face Pakistan in the second and final match of the truncated series. Pakistan drew first blood at Lord’s and need to avoid defeat to leave these shores with the spoils.
Joe Root’s men were not just beaten in London, they were outplayed which leaves the question have they got it in them to bounce back and respond or will Pakistan go on and secure a famous series win?
England
Where to start with England at the minute? I think most people expected there to be a dip as the focus went onto one day cricket but they have reached the stage now where they are far far beyond anything anyone expected. Too few of their players are showing cricket intelligence and the side as a whole looks completely lost.
I always think you know where a side is in terms of their confidence and their morale with how well they field. You can gauge a lot from the body language of a side and England’s was poor and their fielding lived up to that. They are really struggling with the bat too and generally when you suck at two out of the three formats you’re not going to win very often.
Pakistan
While England are struggling, Pakistan are looking for a hat trick of wins in England and Ireland on this tour and that was represent a significant improvement, which in fairness they have shown. They looked a very clever side at Lord’s. They bowled to the conditions and were patient with the bat and thoroughly deserved their win.
Pakistan will be looking to maintain their form from the first match. You would think that with the quality of their bowling attack and the struggles that England are going through with the bat that they will bowl well so if they can bat solidly like they did in the first Test they are entitled to take a lot of beating. Consistency is never a given with Pakistan though.
Team News
England are definitely making one change from Lord’s with Mark Stoneman out of the squad. Keaton Jennings will replace him as Alastair Cook’s opening partner. Ben Stokes is an injury doubt too with Chris Woakes and Sam Curran waiting in reserve should he not be passed fit.
Pakistan will also be forced into a change with Babar Azam having broken his arm in the last match. Usman Salahuddin is expected to make his debut in place of him in what is likely to be Pakistan’s only change.
Headingley
There have been 76 previous Test matches on this Yorkshire venue. England actually have a winning record here with 32 wins and 25 losses with 18 draws from their 75 games. Pakistan have won just two of 10 matches here. While England have a winning record on this ground they have lost three of their last four here which is more of a concern.
The wicket here is generally a good one for batting but when there is cloud cover around, which is basically every day in the north, then the ball can do a bit. There are likely to be thundery showers on the opening day but the weather forecast isn’t that bad the longer the match goes.
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Match Betting
I saw nothing in the first Test to suggest that Pakistan should be such huge outsiders in this match. I don’t expect them to have it quite so easy but England’s record is terrible recently and their record here isn’t much cop either over the last few years. This England team do a lot of talking a good game but it is a good while since they’ve played one unlike Pakistan who were excellent at Lord’s. Anything close to a repeat of that Lord’s performance should be enough to see off an England who don’t look cut out for this format currently.
Given the struggles England have had with the bat in recent times and the dominance the Pakistan attack showed in the first Test I see no reason not to back Pakistan to gain a first innings lead. Almost doubled England’s first innings at Lord’s and again while the margin might not be so large I still think this Pakistan line up can outscore England, especially if Ben Stokes is not fit to play.
Player Betting
One bowler who England had no answer to in the first match was Mohammad Abbas and somehow he is still odds against to take more than 2.5 wickets in the first innings. He took four wickets in both digs at Lord’s and is the sort of bowler who exposes techniques. England’s batsmen don’t have techniques to expose so I’m expecting him to take at least three first innings wickets here.
Chris Woakes is likely to come into the side if Ben Stokes isn’t passed fit and with England having a raft of cricket to come this summer and the fact they can’t win this series I would be surprised if Stokes does play. With that in mind I think there could be some mileage in Woakes to be the top England first innings batsman. Jos Buttler was a run shy of top scoring from seven in the second innings at Lord’s and that would be Woakes’ position. He could do with a big innings to force his way in later in the summer so I’ll take my chances at 33/1.
Tips
Back Pakistan to win 2nd Test for a 3/10 stake at 4.33 with William Hill
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Back Pakistan 1st Inns Lead for a 3/10 stake at 2.50 with Ladbrokes
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Back M.Abbas – Over 2.5 1st Inns Wickets for a 4/10 stake at 2.10 with Coral
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Back C.Woakes Top England 1st Inns Batsman for a 1/10 stake at 34.00 with Betfair
Back him here:
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