 "The Ageas Bowl in Southampton this morning. Photo: @Englandcricket")
England will be eyeing a back-to-back series win on its home soil, when the Joe Root-led side will take on Azhar Ali’s Pakistan in the second Test of a three-match series at the Ageas Bowl starting Thursday in Southampton. England cricket team is leading the three-match Test series 1-0 after Buttler-Woakes heroics on Day 5 thriller of Manchester test.
Pakistan cricket team, on the other hand, would expect a better batting performance, the sole reason behind the defeat in the first est. After taking a lead of 107 in the first innings, the visitors were bundled out for 169 in the second innings.
Check Pak vs Eng 2nd Test live match and weather updates here
England vs Pakistan playing 11 prediction
For England, the one concern will be the absence of talismanic all-rounder Ben Stokes, who has flown to New Zealand for family reasons. Although, he didn't have the best of games in Manchester, his mere presence lifts the whole squad and that would be surely missed by Joe Root and his troops.
"We now have to complete the job without Ben Stokes. He is someone we would miss even if he was unable to bowl or hit a ball. He has such an impact in the changing room beyond what he does in the middle," England pacer Jofra Archer wrote in his column for Daily Mail.
Check Eng vs Pak 2nd Test live telecast and toss timing details here
"If you are going into battle, Stokes is the person you want right next to you. He would never run away from a challenge, but family is so important and he has to be in New Zealand right now," he added.
Zak Crawley is expected to fill Stokes' spot in the England playing 11. Moreover, the absence of the star all-rounder also means veteran fast-bowler James Anderson might get another crack in the series. Anderson recently had to dismiss retirement rumours following an indifferent outing in the first Test. However, in place of Ben Stokes the selectors has added a pacer Ollie Robinson in England squad for the second test.
Pakistan cricket team, on the other hand, would expect a better batting performance, the sole reason behind the defeat in the first est. After taking a lead of 107 in the first innings, the visitors were bundled out for 169 in the second innings.
Check Pak vs Eng 2nd Test live match and weather updates here
England vs Pakistan playing 11 prediction
For England, the one concern will be the absence of talismanic all-rounder Ben Stokes, who has flown to New Zealand for family reasons. Although, he didn't have the best of games in Manchester, his mere presence lifts the whole squad and that would be surely missed by Joe Root and his troops.
"We now have to complete the job without Ben Stokes. He is someone we would miss even if he was unable to bowl or hit a ball. He has such an impact in the changing room beyond what he does in the middle," England pacer Jofra Archer wrote in his column for Daily Mail.
Check Eng vs Pak 2nd Test live telecast and toss timing details here
"If you are going into battle, Stokes is the person you want right next to you. He would never run away from a challenge, but family is so important and he has to be in New Zealand right now," he added.
Zak Crawley is expected to fill Stokes' spot in the England playing 11. Moreover, the absence of the star all-rounder also means veteran fast-bowler James Anderson might get another crack in the series. Anderson recently had to dismiss retirement rumours following an indifferent outing in the first Test. However, in place of Ben Stokes the selectors has added a pacer Ollie Robinson in England squad for the second test.
