Pakistan captain Babar Azam says he is fit for the second Test against England at Lord’s (Geo News).
“Yes, yesterday I had a couple of training sessions. And again, after this, I’m going for my practice session. Just 90%; I am fit for tomorrow’s match and the rest of the series,” he told the pre-match press conference.
The injury
Babar hurt his hand during the three-day practice match against a Professional County Club Select XI at Beckenham earlier this month, struck in the 39th over of Pakistan’s first innings by pacer Manny Lumsden.
He missed the series opener at Headingley, which England won by an innings and 103 runs.
Ninety per cent
It is worth noting what the captain has actually said. He is not declaring himself fully recovered — he has put a number on it, and the number is not 100.
Bowling coach Umar Gul said on Tuesday that Babar had batted a full session in the nets against fast bowlers, spinners and throwdowns, and looked good.
A hand injury for a batter is not like a hamstring; it is tested by pace and by every delivery. Whether 90 per cent holds up across a five-day Test against Jofra Archer at Lord’s is the question the selection answers by asking it.
Why Pakistan need him
They were bowled out for 171 and 135 at Headingley, twice inside 86 overs.
Babar was Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in the preceding West Indies series with 193 runs and two half-centuries.
The rest of the XI
Sources indicate Mohammad Rizwan and captain Salman Ali Agha are likely to retain their places. Pakistan have been considering two spinners, following Ali Usman’s maiden five-wicket haul at Headingley.
England have dropped Brydon Carse pending an investigation into an incident in Derby, with Sonny Baker replacing him.
The Test runs from August 27 to 31.
