For three parties that have hit the headlines for the wrong reasons so far in this cricketing summer, here was a day of partial image rehabilitation. Neither England nor Pakistan could claim at all to be totally in the ascendancy but each side could be pleased with their efforts after a week of strain and scrutiny – off the field, in the case of the former, and on it for the tourists. After a mismatch at Headingley came a much more even contest between two teams looking more like equals; a good toss to win made use of by Pakistan in helpful bowling conditions, but England scrapping their way up to something resembling par to close at 248/9.
For Lord’s, too, this was a welcome occasion. Fears of a wipeout from the weather – and accompanying compensation – did not materialise, while the most scrutinised 22 yards in the country delivered a better balance between bat and ball. This surface may be on the slow side but there was none of the undue movement and variability of bounce that had blighted and truncated the New Zealand Test in June.
That encounter had been overshadowed by the breach of curfew of Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson that followed it; this, by Brydon Carse’s misdemeanour in Derby. This wasn’t quite an England performance to douse the flames but there was a maturity to their manner on the sort of day upon which they might previously have folded. In testing times against a vastly improved visiting attack, their resistance was led by half-centuries from Jordan Cox and Jamie Smith, with a useful unbeaten cameo from Gus Atkinson late on. 56 overs are too few to draw any strong conclusions but a more measured pace felt both evident and effective.
“I think being put in on that sort of surface with the conditions we were faced with, we are reasonably happy,” Smith said. “We feel there is enough in that surface that hopefully we can put Pakistan under the pump a little bit.
“I thought they bowled really nicely up top. It showed that if you can take wickets with the new ball, that is key.”
Pakistan, mind, will be confident they can turn this position into one of strength, even if they may be light a seamer. Two dropped catches, a number of edges falling short and nine no-balls were nonetheless bugbears from an otherwise better day.
With the summer of sun abdicating in favour of the onset of autumn gloom, it was a seam bowler’s day – particularly with the rain relenting earlier than anticipated. A twice delayed toss fell the way of a beaming Babar Azam, Pakistan’s captain fit to feature and all too happy to insert his hosts. There would have been bitter disappointment that the tourists did not give a better account of themselves at Headingley; it said plenty that stand-in skipper Salman Agha was stood down for Azam.
The rest were given a second opportunity – and Abbas made sure to make the most of it. Very English conditions befitted a very English-style seamer, and Pakistan’s attack leader soon winkled out Emilio Gay (8), Ben Duckett (17) and Joe Root (4) in a probing opening spell. The second of those three wickets was Abbas’s 900th in first-class career, a good number of those taken here during County Championship stints with Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Hampshire. “This is my favourite ground,” he said. “Hopefully I get on the honours board. The slope helps me.”
Root looked a man who had been dealing with a lot in another uncomfortable week for English cricket, prodding with incertitude throughout his short stay while trapped in his crease by Mohammad Rizwan, up to the stumps. A more promising period for Pakistan was confirmed by the shivering of Harry Brook’s timbers by Mohammad Ali – having struggled to land a blow in Leeds, a nip-backer proved a persuasive, potent punch.
80/4 suggested the sort of trouble and strife that England usually reserve for the early hours, though a swift scoring rate suggested hope of a speedy rebuild. Pakistan bowled tightly, though, and Jordan Cox and Dan Lawrence preferred to progress more serenely, steadily adding 43 together. They were parted by a mid-wicket miscommunication; Shan Masood, who had earlier put down Lawrence on 10, sure of hand this time as he ran out the man he had reprieved for 17.
That strangle continued, though a 15-over spell without a boundary was snapped by an edge from Jamie Smith. Soon after, back-to-back fours off the otherwise miserly Ali Usman took Cox to a well-judged half-century from 88 balls. His steadiness and solidity allowed Smith to up the tempo, the keeper-batter’s 50 brought up from 63 deliveries. It was a necessary return to form for a player who could yet come under pressure for his place from his partner once Jacob Bethell is fit to return at No 3; for now, though, Cox and Smith were a happy union.
“I’ve gone through a lean period of the bat,” Smith admitted. “How could I read the situation a little bit better? That’s what I’ve tried to do since the summer began, taking my time a little bit more.”
Their stand of 67 was shattered by a moment of brilliance. Cox will reflect that he was a little loose in driving on the up to try and break the shackles, though it did only present the toughest of chances to second slip. Almost more astonishing than the fact it was taken was the fact that it was the dropped Agha, on for Imam-ul-Haq, grasping it – talk about a super-sub. Smith (61) saw his stumps splayed soon after by the impressive Ali, who then kerplunked Robinson’s off peg with another nip-backer.
Abbas cleaned up Jofra Archer, before fading light brought play to a premature halt at 10-past-six to the crowd’s displeasure – the day ending in boos, rather than booze. Pakistan would have been happy enough not to face England’s seamers in such conditions; brighter times with the bat must be to come if they are to turn an encouraging start into something more substantial.
