England enter the ENG vs PAK 2nd Test as firm favourites after crushing Pakistan by an innings and 103 runs at Headingley. Joe Root’s side scored 409 before dismissing Pakistan for 171 and 135. Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue took eight wickets each across the match.
The second Test starts at Lord’s on Thursday, August 27, 2026. England can seal the three-match series with another victory. Pakistan must win or draw to keep the contest alive before the final Test at Edgbaston.
Babar Azam could return after missing the opening match with a finger injury. He completed a full net session before the Lord’s Test, but Pakistan may wait until match day to confirm his place.
ENG vs PAK 2nd Test Odds and Win Probability
England’s strong pace attack, home advantage and first-Test performance make them clear favourites. The hosts bowled Pakistan out twice in fewer than 86 overs at Headingley. They also posted four individual half-centuries in their only innings.
Pakistan’s best chance may come through Mohammad Abbas and Khurram Shahzad with the new ball. The likely return of Babar would also strengthen a batting order that struggled against movement in Leeds.
The draw remains a possible result because London faces an unsettled weather forecast. Rain or thunderstorms could interrupt play on several days.
| Result | Fractional Odds | Decimal Odds | Market-Implied Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| England win | 4/11 | 1.36 | 73.3% |
| Draw | 4/1 | 5.00 | 20.0% |
| Pakistan win | 7/1 | 8.00 | 12.5% |
The combined market percentage exceeds 100% because bookmaker prices include a margin. After removing that margin, the estimated probabilities come to about 69.3% for England, 18.9% for the draw and 11.8% for Pakistan.
The listed prices were available before the match and can change.
England vs Pakistan 2nd Test Match Details
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | England vs Pakistan, 2nd Test |
| Series | Pakistan tour of England 2026 |
| Date | Thursday, August 27 to Monday, August 31, 2026 |
| Start Time | 11:00 AM BST daily |
| Time in India | 3:30 PM IST daily |
| Venue | Lord’s Cricket Ground, London |
| Series Position | England lead 1-0 |
| WTC Cycle | ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 |
| First Test Result | England won by an innings and 103 runs |
| Third Test | September 9 to 13, Edgbaston |
| UK Broadcast | Sky Sports Cricket and NOW |
| UK Highlights | BBC Two and BBC iPlayer |
| Pakistan Broadcast | PTV Sports, Ten Sports and Tapmad |
The ECB has confirmed that Sky Sports Cricket will show every ball in the United Kingdom. BBC platforms will provide daily highlights and radio commentary.
ENG vs PAK Test Series Squads
England could retain the same XI after their strong performance at Headingley. Robinson and Tongue shared 16 wickets, while Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson completed a four-man pace attack.
England have made one squad change. Sonny Baker has replaced Brydon Carse, who will miss the second Test while an investigation continues. Baker made his Test debut against New Zealand earlier in the summer.
England squad: Joe Root (captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Sonny Baker, Harry Brook, Sam Cook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith and Josh Tongue.
Pakistan face a more important selection decision. Babar Azam missed the first Test after hurting his finger during the West Indies series and then taking another blow in a warm-up game. If he returns, Azan Awais could leave the XI.
Pakistan may also consider changes to their bowling attack. Ali Usman took 5 for 92 at Headingley and should keep his place. Mohammad Abbas remains important because of his control and ability to move the new ball.
Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain and wicketkeeper), Shan Masood, Imam-ul-Haq, Azan Awais, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Aamer Jamal, Sajid Khan, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Muhammad Awais Zafar, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman and Ubaid Shah.
Lord’s Pitch Report and Weather
Lord’s could offer another difficult test for the batters. The venue hosted England’s first Test against New Zealand in June 2026. England won that match by 115 runs, but all four innings ended below 230.
The ICC rated that surface “unsatisfactory” after it produced too much seam movement and uneven bounce. The match lasted only 165 overs, with 33 wickets falling across the first two days. MCC then said it would work on the surface.
The Pakistan Test will use a different strip, but recent evidence still points towards help for the fast bowlers.
England vs Pakistan Head-to-Head Record in Tests
England increased their overall lead in this rivalry with their Headingley victory. The two sides have now met 93 times in Test cricket.
| Head-to-Head Record | Number |
|---|---|
| Total Tests | 93 |
| England wins | 31 |
| Pakistan wins | 23 |
| Draws | 39 |
| Current Series Position | England lead 1-0 |
| Last Result | England won by an innings and 103 runs |
| Last Test at Lord’s | Pakistan won by nine wickets in 2018 |
Pakistan can take confidence from their last Test against England at Lord’s. Mohammad Abbas took eight wickets in the 2018 match and helped Pakistan secure a nine-wicket victory.
England now have a stronger and deeper pace attack. Their batters also looked far more comfortable than Pakistan’s lineup during the first Test.
ENG vs PAK 1st Test Recap
Pakistan lost the toss and batted first at Headingley. Robinson took 5 for 51, while Tongue claimed 5 for 46. Pakistan managed only 171 despite Abdullah Shafique’s 61.
England answered with 409 and built a lead of 238 runs. Harry Brook top-scored with 91. Jordan Cox made 73, Joe Root scored 66 and Dan Lawrence added 51. Ali Usman finished with 5 for 92.
Pakistan then fell for 135 in their second innings. Robinson and Tongue collected three wickets each, while Archer also took three. England completed the win before tea on day three despite rain taking away more than half a day.
Where the WTC Table Stands
England sit seventh in the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 table. They have five wins from 14 matches and a points percentage of 29.76.
Pakistan sit ninth with two wins from seven matches and a points percentage of 19.05. Their defeat at Headingley left them below the West Indies. so Pakistan Tour of England Becomes Important for both sides.
| Team | Position | Matches | Wins | Points Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | 7th | 14 | 5 | 29.76% |
| Pakistan | 9th | 7 | 2 | 19.05% |
Both teams remain far from the top two. Another win would help England build momentum before their remaining series against South Africa and Bangladesh. Pakistan need points at Lord’s to improve their position and stay competitive in the cycle.
England vs Pakistan 2nd Test Predicted Playing XIs
England have little reason to change their winning combination. Pakistan’s final XI depends on Babar’s fitness.
England Predicted XI
Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jordan Cox, Joe Root (captain), Harry Brook, Dan Lawrence, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Gus Atkinson, Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue.
England may consider Shoaib Bashir if the pitch looks dry. However, the weather and recent Lord’s surface favour another four-man pace attack.
Pakistan Predicted XI
Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood, Babar Azam (captain), Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Salman Ali Agha, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Abbas and Ali Usman.
If Babar fails his fitness test, Azan Awais should keep his place. Salman Ali Agha would then continue as captain.
Key Players to Watch in the ENG vs PAK Lord’s Test
Here are the Key Players to watch out for both teams:
Ollie Robinson’s New-Ball Threat
Robinson won the Player of the Match award at Headingley after taking 8 for 80. He removed key top-order batters in the first innings and returned to claim three more wickets in the second.
Lord’s should suit his style. Robinson relies on control, seam movement and bounce rather than extreme pace. Another green or damp surface would make him England’s biggest wicket threat.
Harry Brook’s Strong Start to the Series
Brook scored 91 from 93 balls in the first Test. He attacked Pakistan’s seamers and helped England turn a strong position into a match-winning lead.
He also has an excellent Test record against Pakistan. Brook scored 317 in Multan in 2024 and hit three centuries during England’s 2022 tour. Pakistan must remove him early to stop England from scoring quickly.
Babar Azam’s Possible Return
Babar led Pakistan’s run-scoring chart during their recent West Indies series with 193 runs and two fifties. His return would give Pakistan more control in the middle order.
His fitness remains the main concern. The finger injury could affect his grip and shot control, especially against England’s fast bowlers.
Mohammad Abbas at Lord’s
Abbas played the leading role in Pakistan’s nine-wicket win at Lord’s in 2018. He took eight wickets in that match and earned the Player of the Match award.
Conditions could again suit him. Pakistan need Abbas to strike with the new ball and stop England from building another large first-innings lead.
Josh Tongue’s Wicket-Taking Form
Tongue recorded career-best match figures of 8 for 89 at Headingley. He attacked the stumps and found extra bounce against Pakistan’s lower order.
He is also England’s leading wicket-taker in the current WTC cycle with 53 wickets. His ability to strike in short spells makes him a strong candidate for another major haul.
ENG vs PAK 2nd Test Key Markets to Watch
| Market | Selection | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Match Result | England to win | Stronger pace attack and a dominant first-Test victory |
| Safer Result Market | England or draw | Pakistan’s batting struggled twice at Headingley |
| Top England Batter | Harry Brook | Scored 91 in the opener and has a strong record against Pakistan |
| Top Pakistan Batter | Babar Azam, if fit | Pakistan’s leading WTC run-scorer in this cycle |
| England Top Bowler | Ollie Robinson | Took eight wickets in the first Test |
| Pakistan Top Bowler | Mohammad Abbas | Conditions and his previous Lord’s record suit his bowling |
| Value Result | Draw | Rain could take away important playing time |
| Player Performance | Josh Tongue wickets | Took eight wickets at Headingley and enters in strong form |
Odds can change before the toss. Readers should check team news, pitch conditions and local laws before making any decision.
Final Verdict: England to Win the ENG vs PAK 2nd Test
England should win the second Test and take an unbeatable 2-0 series lead. Their fast bowlers dominated Pakistan at Headingley, while four batters passed fifty in their only innings.
Babar’s return would improve Pakistan’s chances. Abbas and Shahzad could also trouble England if rain leaves moisture in the surface. However, Pakistan must show a major improvement with the bat after totals of 171 and 135.
The unsettled forecast keeps the draw in contention. Still, Lord’s could produce enough seam movement for England to take 20 wickets even if rain removes some playing time.
