Footage of Brydon Carse kept flashing up on the big screens at Lord’s on Thursday. Not that footage, of course, but rather the headline-grabbing fast bowler enjoying a refreshing can of the fizzy apple juice that is English cricket’s “official drinks break partner”. In fairness, both clips make a decent advert for sticking to soft drinks.
In Carse’s absence – not that he was likely to play in this second Test against Pakistan – the metaphorical clouds hanging over this England team made way for the real thing. And after being stuck in on a nibbling slow surface, a Swiss clock-precise seamer such as Mohammad Abbas only ever going to be a handful. Abbas duly stamped his mark on proceedings by nipping out four wickets that, with three from the expressive Mohammad Ali, lifted Pakistan’s mood significantly after their no-show at Headingley.
But for two proficient half-centuries from Jordan Cox, 55, and Jamie Smith, 61, England’s eventual 248 for nine from 56 overs by the time bad light brought the close would have been considerably worse. In a new-look England batting lineup still to fully congeal, these were important knocks from two right-handers trying to bolt down their spots. Both men have a reputation as dashers but here, with the Dukes ball in the ascendancy (unless it was dropping short of the slips cordon), they played smart percentage cricket.
Cox in particular held the innings together, with 217 minutes of watchfulness interspersed by punishment of the bad ball, continuing the impression he has made at No 3. It took a stunning one-handed catch from a sub fielder to remove him, with Salman Ali Agha – captain last week, dropped the next – as wide-eyed as anyone over his achievement. This broke a precious 67-run six-wicket stand with Smith after tea and, while the wicketkeeper kicked on for a spell, he eventually became one of three men clean bowled before the gloom became too great.
Given how one-sided events were at Headingley, it felt like honours even in one respect but Pakistan’s day in another.
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