Michael Vaughan Blasts Pakistan’s Batting Display at Lord’s
England had scored 290 in their first innings, and former England captain Michael Vaughan was critical of the gap between the two teams.
Pakistan were bowled out for 110 in their first innings on Day 2 of the second Test at Lord’s on August 28, giving England a 180-run advantage.
Michael Vaughan compared Pakistan’s batting to second-tier county cricket and questioned if the visitors could be deemed a legitimate Test-match batting group.
Azan Awais, Pakistan’s top scorer with 46 runs off 102 balls, was the only hitter who provided any opposition. Imam-ul-Haq did not bat after straining his left calf while fielding on the first day.It’s really easy. They are continuing doing a terrific job and appear to be menacing.
And I believe that if this bowling attack continues, it will challenge superior batting lineups. But this is Pakistan batting. Is this second division county cricket? There’s no chance they’re batting at that level; that’s a Test match batting order,” Michael Vaughan told BBC Test Match Special.
What did Michael Vaughan say about Pakistan’s batting?
Michael Vaughan was blunt in his appraisal of Pakistan’s batting, claiming that England’s bowlers were not being challenged in any significant sense. He observed that Pakistan’s lineup provided little resistance, and England’s bowlers were primarily battling for wickets rather than facing batsmen.I will be brutally honest.
The English bowlers are not being challenged at all. And this Pakistani batting order may be the simplest I’ve seen in a long time to bowl against. Not only that, but as a bowler, I believe they are all queueing up to bowl because they know there are wickets available.
You are not going to get wounded. No batter is going to injure them. Michael Vaughan stated, “No one is going to damage their figures, and it’s really, ‘roll up, roll up, who wants to get the wickets?’.”I believe they are all aware that Pakistan would not achieve high scores.
So you’re only going to be out there for 40 to 50 overs, so you give it your all in every spell and keep coming to Joe Root, saying, “Err, I’ll bowl another one.”‘There are so many wickets out there,’ he said.
How did England’s bowlers destroy Pakistan at Lords?
England’s pace attack was unrelenting throughout Pakistan’s first innings, with Ollie Robinson being the standout performer. Robinson concluded with 4 for 11 from 13 overs, while Jofra Archer took 3 for 26 in 11.2 overs.
Josh Tongue took two wickets as England dismissed Pakistan in the opening session of Day 2, but Gus Atkinson went wicketless.
Babar Azam recovered from a finger injury for the Lord’s Test, but failed to make an impression at the top of the order. With Imam-ul-Haq out owing to a calf injury, Pakistan’s batting resources were further stretched, with just Awais’ 46 keeping the score from being much lower.
England’s second innings of 81 for 3 at the end of Day 2 left Pakistan needing to bat out a large deficit to salvage the match, with the total margin at 261 runs.
