England vs Pakistan Second Test: Time, TV & Team News
England and Pakistan move to Lord’s for the Second Test from 11am BST on Thursday 27 August, with Joe Root’s side holding a 1-0 lead after an innings-and-103-run victory at Headingley. England can secure the three-match series in London, while Pakistan are waiting on Babar Azam’s availability after he missed the opener with a hand injury. Before play, compare the latest markets with our guide to the best cricket betting sites.
England vs Pakistan Second Test at a glance
- Dates: Thursday 27–Monday 31 August 2026
- Venue: Lord’s, London
- Start time: 11am BST each day
- Non-member gates: 9am
- Member gates: 8.30am
- Members’ guests gates: 8.45am
- TV channel: Sky Sports Cricket
- Streaming: NOW
- BBC highlights: BBC Two and BBC iPlayer
- Radio commentary: Test Match Special
- TMS platforms: BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and BBC Sport
- Series score: England lead 1-0
- England captain: Joe Root
- Pakistan captain: Babar Azam, subject to fitness
Lord’s has confirmed an 11am start, with gates opening at 8.30am for members, 8.45am for members’ guests and 9am for non-members. The match is scheduled to run for five days, although it can finish earlier if a result is reached.
England Pakistan Second Test start time: when does play begin?
The Second Test begins at 11am BST on Thursday 27 August and can run through to Monday 31 August if all five days are required.
Play is scheduled to start at 11am on each day.
| Day | Date | Scheduled start | Scheduled close |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Thursday 27 August | 11am | Around 6pm |
| Day 2 | Friday 28 August | 11am | Around 6pm |
| Day 3 | Saturday 29 August | 11am | Around 6pm |
| Day 4 | Sunday 30 August | 11am | Around 6pm |
| Day 5 | Monday 31 August | 11am | Around 6pm |
The finish can move because of weather, slow over-rates, additional playing time or the state of the match. The 6pm close should therefore be treated as the scheduled finish rather than a guarantee.
Lord’s session times
The standard scheduled hours of play for the Second Test are:
| Session | Time |
|---|---|
| Morning session | 11am–1pm |
| Lunch | 1pm–1.40pm |
| Afternoon session | 1.40pm–3.40pm |
| Tea | 3.40pm–4pm |
| Evening session | 4pm–6pm |
Supporters should check their ticket category before travelling because Lord’s operates different gate-opening times for members, members’ guests and non-members.
England Pakistan TV channel: how to watch the Second Test
Sky Sports Cricket will show every ball of the Second Test live in the UK. Play begins at 11am each day, with pre-match coverage expected before the first ball.
Viewers without a traditional Sky television subscription can stream the match through a NOW Sports Membership.
| Coverage | Where to watch/listen |
|---|---|
| Live TV | Sky Sports Cricket |
| Online live stream | NOW |
| Free-to-air highlights | BBC Two |
| On-demand BBC highlights | BBC iPlayer |
| Radio | BBC Test Match Special |
| Digital radio/online | BBC Sounds, BBC Sport |
| Short digital highlights | ECB website / England Cricket app |
The ECB website and England Cricket app will also provide live scorecards and updating video highlights. Full 15-minute match highlights are expected shortly after the final ball.
Are England vs Pakistan highlights on the BBC?
BBC Two will show highlights from each day of the Lord’s Test, with the programmes also available through BBC iPlayer. The exact transmission time may change across the five days, particularly if play finishes late or additional time is used. Viewers should check the BBC schedule for the relevant evening.
What happened in the First Test?
England arrive at Lord’s with a 1-0 series lead after completing a dominant three-day victory at Headingley.
- Pakistan first innings: 171
- England first innings: 409
- Pakistan second innings: 135
- Result: England won by an innings and 103 runs
- Player of the Match: Ollie Robinson, 8 wickets for 80 runs
- Jordan Cox: 73
- Joe Root: 66
- Harry Brook: 91
- Dan Lawrence: 51
Pakistan struggled against England’s seam attack in both innings. Robinson and Josh Tongue took five wickets each in the first innings before England’s bowlers dismissed the visitors for 135 on the third day.
The result means England can secure an unassailable 2-0 lead by winning at Lord’s. Pakistan need a victory to level the series before the final Test at Edgbaston.
Joe Root can seal the series at Lord’s
Joe Root’s second spell as permanent England Test captain began with a convincing victory at his home ground.
Root won the toss and chose to bowl at Headingley, with England dismissing Pakistan for 171 before building a first-innings lead of 238. He also contributed 66 with the bat as four England players passed fifty.
The challenge at Lord’s is to turn that strong start into a series victory. A win would give England an unassailable 2-0 advantage with one match remaining.
Root has said that England will retain the positive elements developed under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum while becoming more adaptable when match conditions demand it.
Jordan Cox heads to Lord’s after impressive 73
Jordan Cox strengthened his position at No.3 by scoring 73 in the First Test.
Cox came to the crease with England 49 for two and built an important partnership with Root. His innings justified the decision to promote him after Jacob Bethell was ruled out of the series.
The selectors have placed Cox ahead of the returning Ollie Pope for the No.3 position. Unless England change their batting combination, he is expected to retain the role at Lord’s.
His ability to handle the new ball will again be important if Pakistan’s seamers find early movement.
England absences and selection questions
Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes retired from international cricket during England’s series against New Zealand in June. Root has taken over the captaincy permanently, while England continue to adjust their middle order and bowling balance without Stokes.
There is no direct replacement for his combination of leadership, batting and seam bowling.
Jacob Bethell
Bethell will miss the entire Pakistan Test series after suffering a right knee injury during the ODI series against India.
Cox has replaced him at No.3 and made 73 in his first innings in the role against Pakistan.
Sam Curran
Curran was not selected in the squad for the opening two Tests. England’s selectors cited his recent workload and a number of fitness issues when explaining the decision.
His absence leaves Dan Lawrence as the current No.6 after Lawrence scored 51 at Headingley.
Brydon Carse
Brydon Carse is not available for selection at Lord’s while the Cricket Regulator investigates an off-field incident.
Carse has been removed from the Second Test squad and replaced by Sonny Baker. Carse did not play at Headingley, meaning England can still retain the bowling attack that won the First Test.
Emilio Gay
Gay came through the Headingley Test after his preparation had been affected by a shoulder problem.
He remains in England’s 16-player squad for Lord’s, although the final XI will not be confirmed until closer to the match.
England squad for the First Test against Pakistan
England have named a 16-player squad, with Sonny Baker replacing Brydon Carse.
Baker made his Test debut against New Zealand earlier in the summer. His inclusion gives England another pace option, although Robinson, Tongue, Archer and Atkinson were all involved in the Headingley victory.
Pakistan Test squad
Pakistan’s current touring squad includes:
Pakistan may consider changes after being dismissed for 171 and 135 at Headingley, but their final XI has not yet been confirmed.
Will Babar Azam return at Lord’s?
Babar Azam missed the First Test after aggravating a hand injury during Pakistan’s warm-up match in Beckenham. Salman Ali Agha captained the team at Headingley, but Babar remains Pakistan’s official Test captain and is still part of the touring squad.
Pakistan had initially hoped that he would recover in time for the Second Test. His participation at Lord’s should nevertheless be treated as subject to final medical clearance until the team confirms its XI. A fit Babar would strengthen Pakistan’s batting order after their top and middle order struggled against England’s seamers in Leeds.
England vs Pakistan betting: Second Test markets
England begin the Second Test with momentum and a 1-0 series lead, but conditions at Lord’s, the weather forecast and the final team selections could affect the market before the toss.
| Market | Guide odds | Angle |
|---|---|---|
| England to win | 8/15 | Strong favourites after their innings victory at Headingley |
| Pakistan to win | 5/1 | Need to improve with the bat to level the series |
| Draw | 14/5 | Weather and the Lord’s surface could increase interest |
| England to win the series | 13/8 | Victory at Lord’s would secure an unassailable 2-0 lead |
Match prices can change when the weather forecast, pitch and final XIs become clearer. Check the live market before placing a bet rather than reusing the prices offered for the Headingley Test.
What to watch for at Lord’s
Babar’s availability
Babar’s fitness is Pakistan’s biggest selection question. His return would strengthen the batting order and allow him to resume the captaincy after Salman Ali Agha led the side at Headingley.
England’s bowling combination
Robinson and Tongue took eight wickets each across the First Test, while Archer and Atkinson also contributed in the second innings.
Carse’s removal does not force an immediate change because he was not part of the Headingley XI. Baker provides additional cover if England decide to rotate one of their fast bowlers.
Cox at No.3
Cox made an assured 73 after arriving at the crease with England two wickets down. Lord’s presents another examination of his technique if Pakistan’s new-ball attack finds early movement.
Pakistan’s batting response
Pakistan failed to reach 200 in either Headingley innings. Their ability to build partnerships against Robinson, Tongue and Archer will be central to whether they can keep the series alive.
Root’s chance to clinch the series
England already have the advantage after one match. A second consecutive win would secure the series before the teams meet again at Edgbaston from 9 September.
