Pakistan’s Mohammad Abbas Dominates Opening Day of Lord’s Test

Rain delayed the start of the second England-Pakistan Test at Lord’s until after noon, and Pakistan won the toss and chose to bowl. In the first 56 overs England were reduced to 248-9, with captain Joe Root dismissed for four and both openers Ben Duckett (17) and Emilio Gay (8) falling to seam bowler Mohammad Abbas. Abbas claimed four wickets for 56 runs, also removing Jofra Archer (14). Pakistan’s second seamer Mohammad Ali added three wickets for 67 runs, including Harry Brook (15) and Jamie Smith (61). England’s resistance came from Jordan Cox (55) and Jamie Smith (61), who added a 67-run partnership, while Gus Atkinson finished unbeaten on 34 before play was halted by bad light.

England on the back foot in second Test against Pakistan amid rain delays

The first Test at Headingley ended in a heavy defeat for Pakistan, shifting momentum to the visitors at Lord’s. England entered the match amid off-field turbulence: fast bowler Brydon Carse was withdrawn after a Derby nightclub incident, and the England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed his unavailability. A diplomatic flare-up also occurred when the Pakistan Cricket Board lodged a formal complaint with Sky Sports over an interview with Imran Khan’s sons aired during the lunch break.

Brydon Carse to miss England's second Test vs Pakistan as Cricket Regulator conducts investigation into nightclub incident

• England innings: 248/9 (56 overs)

England on the back foot in second Test against Pakistan amid rain delays

• Pakistan bowling: Mohammad Abbas 4-56 (15 overs), Mohammad Ali 3-67 (17 overs)

Pakistan no-play threat, angry complaint after confronting interview with Imran Khan’s sons aired during England Test

• England top scores: Jordan Cox 55, Jamie Smith 61, Gus Atkinson 34*

Bad light halts play as England fights to 248-9 against Pakistan at Lord’s

• Fall of wickets: 80-4 at lunch, 120-5 before the partnership, 248-9 at stumps

England on the back foot in second Test against Pakistan amid rain delays

• The PCB described its complaint to Sky Sports as a “formal protest” over the interview.

Pakistan no-play threat, angry complaint after confronting interview with Imran Khan’s sons aired during England Test

• Pakistan captain Babar Azam chose to bowl first, noting the “muggy” and “overcast” conditions suited his seam attack.

Bad light halts play as England fights to 248-9 against Pakistan at Lord’s

• Mohammad Abbas reflected on his affinity for Lord’s, calling it his “first man-of-the-match” venue and expressing hope to join the honours board.

Pakistan no-play threat, angry complaint after confronting interview with Imran Khan’s sons aired during England Test

• “A decent enough day for us,” — Jamie Smith

BBC News

• “We can't really make a judgement apart from it being, whatever's happened, pretty daft.” — Stuart Broad

Brydon Carse to miss England's second Test vs Pakistan as Cricket Regulator conducts investigation into nightclub incident

• “My first man-of-the-match was at Lord’s, that’s why it’s my favourite ground — hopefully I will put my name on the honours board this time,” — Mohammad Abbas

Pakistan no-play threat, angry complaint after confronting interview with Imran Khan’s sons aired during England Test

Day two will resume after the scheduled break, with England’s lower order still to bat and Pakistan aiming to build on the early bowling advantage.

Al Jazeera (website)