Pakistan coach Sarfaraz Ahmed has admitted the seriousness of the batting dilemma, citing the team’s failure to spend enough time at the crease as a key issue. The early phase of the innings has proved particularly difficult against England’s speed attack.
Pakistan’s batting has been a major worry in their Test series against England. In the first Test, the Netherlands lost by an innings in Leeds, scoring 171 and 135 over two innings, while England scored 409.
The problems continued into the second Test at Lord’s, which began on August 27, 2026, as part of a three-match series that lasted from August 19 to September 13, 2026.
Azan Awais demonstrates promise under pressure.
Despite facing great bowling from England’s speed attack in the Lord’s Test, young batsman Azan Awais exhibited tenacity. Sarfaraz Ahmed hailed the 21-year-old’s application and poise under pressure, seeing his performance as a good indicator for Pakistan’s batting future.
The first phase necessitates good skill.
According to Sarfaraz Ahmed, the first portion of Test cricket requires strong technical foundations.
During the first hour, batters must be disciplined and use proper technique to form partnerships and accumulate runs. Pakistan’s overall performance in the series has been plagued by inconsistent batting, despite improved bowling.
The team has tried to balance the squad composition to improve the batting order, but the results have been dismal in both Tests.
The team’s preparation for Test cricket may have been hampered by the previous year’s busy schedule of Twenty20 matches. However, Sarfaraz Ahmed underlined that professional cricketers must be able to adjust efficiently across formats, regardless of their previous playing commitments.
Despite the rising pressure and series difficulties, Pakistan’s coach remains confident about his team’s chances in the remaining matches. He admitted that cricket often generates surprising results and that Pakistan still had potential to turn the series around.
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