ENG vs PAK 2nd Test Toss: Returning Captain Babar Chose to Bowl First at Lord's

LORD'S: A rain-delayed ENG vs PAK 2nd Test toss concluded at Lord's Cricket Ground, where returning regular captain Babar Azam won the toss and chose to bowl first under heavy overcast skies.

Persistent morning showers pushed the traditional schedule back by 80 minutes. Following multiple inspections, ground staff cleared the damp outfield to allow the toss at 4:00 PM PKT. Acknowledging the moisture trapped under the covers and the favorable overhead conditions for swing bowling, Babar chose to bowl to extract maximum early advantage. 

Babar Azam returned to lead the national side after missing the series opener at Headingley due to a finger injury. In a tactical shake-up following their heavy innings defeat in Leeds, the visitors replaced stand-in skipper Salman Ali Agha to accommodate their premier batsman. 

Conversely, England cricket team captain Joe Root confirmed an unchanged lineup following their dominant innings and 103-run victory. The hosts aim to wrap up the three-match series on a surface historically friendly to seamers. Armed with an assertive pace attack, Pakistan's new-ball bowlers now look to dismantle the English top order early on Day 1.

England Playing XI for 2nd Test 

Emilio Gay, Ben Duckett, Jordan Cox, Joe Root (C), Harry Brook, Dan Lawrence, Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue

Pakistan Playing XI for 2nd Test 

Imam-ul-Haq, Azan Awais, Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam (C), Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Khurram Shahzad, Ali Usman, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali

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