Former England captain Michael Vaughan has slammed Pakistan’s batting line-up, comparing it to second-rate county cricket. Speaking on BBC Test Match Special, the 51-year-old Vaughan said England’s bowlers were facing little challenge from Pakistan’s batsmen and described the current Pakistani batting line-up as one of the easiest he had seen in a long time.
Vaughan said England’s bowlers know there are wickets to be taken in Pakistan’s batting order, which has made every bowler eager to attack and take wickets. He added that Pakistan’s batsmen posed little threat to the English bowling attack.
He further said England’s bowlers were confident that Pakistan would not post a big total, allowing them to maintain an aggressive approach throughout their spells. According to Vaughan, the bowlers were even encouraging captain Joe Root to bowl more overs. Vaughan praised England’s bowling attack, saying the bowlers were performing exceptionally well and that, if they continued to bowl in the same manner, they could trouble even the strongest batting line-ups.
The former England captain then sarcastically questioned whether the match was “second-rate county cricket,” arguing that Pakistan’s batting did not look like a Test-match line-up by any standard.
On the other hand, Pakistan’s batting line-up collapsed while chasing a target of 389 runs in the second Test against England, with three of the team’s top batters back in the pavilion for just 14 runs. In the match being played at Lord’s, Pakistan opener Azan Owais scored six runs, Abdullah Shafique was dismissed for a duck, and captain Babar Azam also scored six.
England were bowled out for 208 in their second innings, but their first-innings lead allowed them to set Pakistan a challenging target of 389 runs. For Pakistan, fast bowler Mohammad Abbas once again claimed a five-wicket haul, while Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Ali took two wickets each.
England batter Dan Lawrence top-scored with 54 runs. Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq was unable to bat due to injury. The third day of the ongoing Test at Lord’s ended early due to bad light. England had resumed the third day on 81 for three before being bowled out for 208.