Pakistan v England Second Test preview

After a first test between Pakistan and England with several talking points and broken records, our eyes turn to the second test between the two nations.

If we get a second test with half the amount of drama as the first, then we have a spectacle on our hands after Joe Root and Harry Brook combined for a 454-run partnership – breaking the record for the highest partnership in England’s history. This included a career-high 317 from Brook, which puts him fifth for the highest individual score ever for England.

His partner Root recorded 262 to overtake Sir Alastair Cook as England’s all-time top leading Test run scorer, a historical achievement for one of England’s best cricketers of all time. All in, England went 823-7, their highest score for over 80 years – no doubt this will be tough to follow in the second test.

Check out the odds on the second test between Pakistan and England.

The second test – Tuesday 05:00

The second test between Pakistan and England begins on Tuesday morning, with England favoured as 4/6 favourites and Pakistan 2/1, with the draw a 6/1 chance.

As mentioned, England are off the back of a record-breaking victory and they will be buoyed by that. They also have captain Ben Stokes returning to the side alongside pace bowler Matthew Potts, the pair step in for Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson.

Additionally, the pitch used in the first test will be used again here as Pakistan look to opt for a more bowler-centric lineup after they prioritised batsman in the first test. They have gone very spin heavy with their selected bowlers, with three of them being able to turn it off the surface.

Due to this, it may be worth looking at both sides’ top spin bowlers due to the likely more worn surface. England’s Jack Leach is 15/8 to be England’s top bowler in the first innings – he looks a good bet considering how it may play. The 4/1 #YourOdds bet with Leach Top Bowler and England to Win looks appealing if you’re feeling braver.

Harry Brook’s 317 runs in the previous test was mighty impressive, and you could say the achievement may have been overshadowed by Root breaking the record for the most Test runs in England history. It makes sense to look at the 27/10 on Brook to follow up from the first test and be England’s top run scorer here.

England will come into this match-up on a high and there’s no reason to believe that they can’t repeat their level of performance, so 17/2 says Joe Root and Harry Brook both score a century in the first innings, if they can get going in the same manner they did last week then that will end up looking a very good price.

It’s clear that Pakistan has a plan here with the utilisation of the older pitch and the inclusion of more spin bowlers within the set up – it’ll be fascinating to see how it plays out.

Check out the latest odds on cricket here with William Hill.