England Cricket - (Source: AFP)On Thursday, August 27, England and Pakistan will lock horns for the 2nd Test match at the Mecca of Cricket. The two teams will square off at Lord’s with the series on the line for Pakistan. The visitors suffered an embarrassing defeat in the opening match.Pakistan were without Babar Azam for the 1st Test, but they have received a huge boost because the 31-year-old has been declared fit for the Lord’s Test. Further, Pakistan are expected to make several changes following the defeat by an innings at Headingley.England, on the other hand, had a different mess altogether to sort out. Star seamer Brydon Carse was pulled out of the squad for the 2nd Test following a nightclub incident. Sonny Baker was added to the team as his replacement. Therefore, this article will shed light on England’s predicted playing XI vs Pakistan for the 2nd Test. Openers and top order: Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jordan CoxBen Duckett: Ben Duckett failed to shine in the 1st Test vs Pakistan as the southpaw could only score 15 runs in the 1st innings; in fact, the only innings that England batted. However, the 31-year-old is in form and is fresh off a brilliant season across formats. Duckett shone in the Hundred and amassed 337 runs in 9 innings. Further, the southpaw had a brilliant ODI series against India as well, amassing 141 runs in the 3rd ODI. Emilio Gay: The 26-year-old was under the scanner before the Pakistan series because of his underwhelming performance against New Zealand. Gay scored just 139 runs in 6 innings, averaging 23.17. However, in the 1st Test against Pakistan, Emilio showed promise and scored 33 runs off 31 deliveries. Hence, he will continue to open the innings with Ben Duckett.Jordan Cox: Cox had a great outing against Pakistan in the 1st innings, where he played a 73-run knock on a challenging surface. Cox looked in great control and is likely to cement his place at No. 3 in England’s Test team. Middle Order: Joe Root, Harry Brook, Dan Lawrence, Jamie SmithJoe Root: England captain Joe Root will bat at No.4. He missed out on a well-deserved century in the 1st Test and scored 66 (112). Root silenced his critics in style in the 1st Test who doubted his abilities to score runs with the added responsibilities.Harry Brook: Harry Brook was the best batter at Headingly as the England vice-captain missed out on a century by just nine runs. Brook played a brilliant 91-run knock, which featured 13 fours. He didn’t shy away from taking on Pakistan seamers, and it would be fair to say that England have a lethal middle-order.Also Read: Joe Root Brutally Slams Brydon Carse For Nightclub IncidentDan Lawrence: Dan Lawrence, too, marked his return in style against Pakistan as the right-handed batter smashed a fifty. Lawrence couldn’t get the chance to show his bowling skills because the pacers were on song. However, the all-rounder is expected to bowl a lot more overs at Lord’s.Jamie Smith: Jamie Smith is under the scanner because the star keeper-batter is struggling for runs. The youngster scored just 25 runs off 52 balls against Pakistan. However, England are likely to give him a long run.Bowlers: Gus Atkinson, Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer, Josh TongueGus Atkinson: England's bowlers were on point in the 1st Test vs Pakistan. Gus Atkinson was the least effective as he took just a solitary wicket across two innings. However, he was not to be blamed because Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue were on a roll. Ollie Robinson: Ollie Robinson was the star bowler at Headingley. He picked up a five-wicket haul in the first innings, followed by a three-wicket haul in the 2nd innings to rattle Pakistan.Josh Tongue: Tongue was Robinson’s partner in crime as the right-arm seamer also had a five-wicket haul at Headingly. As a result, Tongue and Robinson split the ball in half to celebrate the milestone. Further, he also had a three-wicket haul in the 2nd innings.Jofra Archer: Archer couldn’t get the opportunity to spill his magic in the 1st innings, but he troubled Pakistan in the 2nd innings by taking the first two wickets of that innings. Therefore, England will go ahead with the same playing XI.England Predicted Playing XI For 2nd Test vs PakistanBen Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jordan Cox, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Dan Lawrence, Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson, Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer, Josh TongueAlso Read: Mitchell Starc Claims Number 1 Spot In ICC Rankings, Dethrones Jasprit Bumrah
