'Embarrassing', 'Staring at humiliation': Cricket World reacts after Pakistan’s dismal batting in Lord's Test vs England

'Embarrassing', 'Staring at humiliation': Cricket World reacts after Pakistan's dismal batting in Lord's Test vs England originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Pakistan were bowled out for 110 in 37.2 overs at Lord's.

England took a 180-run first-innings lead after being dismissed for 290.

Michael Vaughan and journalist Aatif Nawaz were among those criticising the batting display.

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Cricket World reacts after Pakistan's dismal batting in Lord's Test vs England

Pakistan's tour of England has descended into something close to freefall, and the second day at Lord's produced their most abject batting performance yet. Bowled out for 110 in 37.2 overs, they handed England a 180-run first-innings advantage and drew a wave of criticism from across the game.

England had been dismissed for 290 in the morning session, a total that felt modest given Pakistan had reduced them to 36 for 3 on the opening day. Ollie Robinson then produced remarkable figures of 4 for 11 from 13 overs, including six maidens, with Jofra Archer taking 3 for 26 and Josh Tongue two.

Azan Awais was the lone source of resistance, the novice opener battling 102 balls for 46 before top-edging a pull. The next-best contribution on the scorecard was 20 extras. Pakistan were effectively nine down throughout, with Imam-ul-Haq unable to bat after sustaining a low-grade left calf tear while fielding.

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How Pakistan's batting collapsed at Lord's

Abdullah Shafique, Pakistan's most in-form batter, fell right on lunch as the tourists slipped to 16 for 2 in 14.1 overs. Babar Azam, returning from the finger injury that ruled him out at Headingley, struck a couple of boundaries through the covers before edging Tongue to third slip.

Saud Shakeel was the only other batter to reach double figures, making 16 from 16 balls before Robinson pinned him on the back leg. After a 30-minute rain delay, Mohammad Rizwan also fell lbw to Robinson, and the innings unravelled from there.

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Ali Usman dragged Archer onto his stumps, Khurram Shahzad edged Robinson to second slip, and Awais was the second-to-last man out at 106 for 8.

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The cricket world reacts to Pakistan's dismal batting display

Former England captain Michael Vaughan was among the first to respond, framing it as a failure of character rather than technique. "That was embarrassing from Pakistan. Never have I seen a Pakistan side look so short of spirit and fight," Vaughan wrote.

BBC Test Match Special commentator Aatif Nawaz argued the gulf between the sides had become impossible to explain away through tactics or conditions.

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"110 all out. At times, it's looked like two teams playing in completely different leagues. England utterly dominant; Pakistan was completely outclassed. You can analyse selections, conditions and tactics all you like, but seriously: what can you even say in defence of this?" he wrote.

To him the two teams were never on the same level. Meanwhile, Indian journalist Vikrant Gupta wondered whether the off-field row that engulfed Pakistan cricket the previous day had affected the players.

"Pakistan was mired in huge controversy off the field yesterday. And today they are staring at humiliation on the field at Lord's today. Pakistan all out for 110 after bowling England out for 290," he posted. He argued that the team lacked any conviction.

"Do you think yesterday's Imran Khan vs Pakistan vs Imran Khan's sons vs Sky Sports vs PCB vs Atherton has a role to play in demoralising the Pak team?" he wrote. Broadcaster Piers Morgan took a characteristically blunt approach, addressing the batters directly.

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"Memo to Pakistan's batsmen: I am flying back early from my St Tropez holiday to be at Lord's tomorrow and Sunday. I NEED YOU ALL TO GROW A PAIR, PLEASE," he posted.

A lifelong cricket fan, Morgan's frustration is palpable after such a one-sided performance from the visitors. Supporters were equally resigned, with one fan account writing, "Another humiliating defeat confirmed for Pakistan. Bowled out for 110 runs, with England leading by 180 runs."

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Why the off-field theory only goes so far

Gupta's question about the Imran Khan row is a reasonable one to ask, and a dressing room cannot be entirely insulated from a controversy engulfing its cricket board. But the batting failures at Lord's are the continuation of a pattern rather than a sudden departure from one.

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Pakistan lost eight first-innings wickets for 74 runs at Headingley the previous week, and they have now lost all seven of their away Tests in SENA countries since 2022. Babar's return, billed as the fix, produced two boundaries and an edge to third slip.

What makes Nawaz's assessment sting is its accuracy. When a debutant-level opener with scores of 0 and 9 to his name is comfortably the best batter on show, and extras finish second on the scorecard, the problem is neither the pitch nor the news cycle.

England leads by 209, and Pakistan faces the prospect of surrendering the series with a Test still to play. But with England themselves losing both Duckett and Cox, Pakistan can still try to finish this in the final innings.

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