England will have their backs against the wall when they take on Pakistan in the second of the two-match Test series at Headingley in Leeds on Friday.
Defying all odds and expectations, Sarfraz Ahmed’s men blew away the hosts by a nine-wicket margin within four days in the first Test at Lord’s to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Joe Root and his men, on the other hand, have come in for some stinging criticism from all quarters following their lacklustre showing at Lord’s.
Here, we look at the key talking points ahead of what could be a momentous Test at Headingley.
PAKISTAN LOOK FOR HISTORY
In the last 10 years, only two overseas sides have managed to win a Test series in England. South Africa sealed a victory in 2008 while Sri Lanka famously won the two-Test series in 2014, 1-0 – ironically, with success coming in the second Test at Leeds.
Sarfraz and his men could become the first Pakistan side since 1996 to win a Test series in England. That time, a Wasim Akram-led Pakistan side beat the hosts 2-0 in a three-match Test series.
It would certainly represent Sarfraz’s greatest triumph since taking over the Test captaincy from Misbah-ul-Haq and could just be the tonic Pakistan cricket needs to kickstart a new era.
Sarfraz Ahmed could kickstart a new Test era for Pakistan.
ENGLAND SWEAT ON STOKES’ FITNESS
If the humiliation of a thrashing in front of home fans wasn’t enough, England were dealt a further blow in the aftermath of the Lord’s Test when Ben Stokes suffered a hamstring injury.
The star all-rounder is key to the balance of the squad and as such, Root will be hoping that he can make a late recovery for Friday. Stokes still has not been ruled out of the Leeds Test and underwent a light net session on Thursday. He will undergo a scan on his hamstring before undergoing a late fitness test on Friday morning before England make a final call on his availability.
If Stokes is unable to recover in time, 19-year-old Sam Curran could make his Test debut for England after the youngster was called up as a late replacement.
England will be hoping Stokes can make a quick recovery.
USMAN SALAHUDDIN IN LINE FOR PAKISTAN DEBUT
While Pakistan completed a stunning victory at Lord’s, it came at a slight cost with star batsman Babar Azam being ruled out of the remainder of the series after fracturing his elbow on day two.
Middle-order batsman Usman Salahuddin is expected to take Azam’s place in the playing XI on Friday in what will be his Test debut. The 27-year-old impressed in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy last year and scored a fine 69 in Pakistan tour-match against Leicestershire earlier.
Usman is vying with Fakhar Zaman and Sami Aslam but the odds are firmly in his favour.
Usman has played two ODIs for Pakistan previously.
HOSTS UNDER FIRE
While Pakistan are chasing history, England are seeking to arrest their alarming slide in Test cricket which has seen them go without a win in their last eight matches. Of these, they have lost six of them and a loss or draw at Headingley would mean Root’s men have lost three series on the bounce after defeats in the Ashes and New Zealand.
Under coach Trevor Bayliss, England have lost a staggering 20 out of 41 Tests. Former players and pundits were quick to criticise him once again after the Lord’s slump and another defeat could very well signal huge changes in the English Test set-up.
While their batsmen are under fire for obvious reasons, star pace bowling duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad managed to pick up only five wickets between them at the Home of Cricket. If England are to turn it around, they will need to raise their level in all departments.
The England think-tank is coming under increasing fire.
