Although he acknowledges he is still recovering from the finger injury that prevented him from playing in the series opener, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam is scheduled to rejoin the team for the second Test match against England at Lord’s on Thursday.
Babar was not present at the first Test at Headingley, where England won by 103 runs in three days with a dominant innings. Since then, the captain of Pakistan has resumed training, and he thinks he is healthy enough to play at Lord’s.
Babar was hit on the hand during a warm-up match against the County Select XI at Beckenham, England, which made the condition worse. The injury was first sustained during Pakistan’s tour to the West Indies. Before the Lord’s fixture, Babar went through a period of recovery and took part in practice sessions.
He made enough progress to declare himself ready for the second Test. With the series still up for grabs following Pakistan’s crushing loss at Headingley, the captain’s return comes at a crucial time.
Babar stated on Wednesday at a press conference, “Yes, 90% I’m fit for tomorrow’s match.” Furthermore Hindustan Times quotes him as saying, “I’ve had a couple of practice sessions again and I’m 90 per cent fit for the match tomorrow.”
Pakistan will benefit greatly from his comeback, especially after their batting crumbled in the first Test. While Babar has scored at an average of 53.83 in 14 Test innings against England, he has an outstanding record in England, averaging 65.75.
Pakistan’s chances for revival are bolstered by Babar’s performance in England. He has demonstrated his capacity to perform on English wickets by averaging 65.75 with three half-centuries over six Test innings in England. His career average against England is 53.83 from 14 innings, with six fifties and one century. His reliability in England indicates that he has the technical groundwork necessary to be successful at Lord’s.
Babar’s performance in the previous West Indies series demonstrated that he was prepared for the task at hand. Prior to the England assignment, he shown consistency by amassing 193 runs during the tour. As Pakistan looks to tie the series and regain momentum following the Headingley loss, his presence at the crease will be crucial.
