Jofra Archer produced a devastating fast-bowling display at the start of Pakistan's first innings during the second Test at Lord's, recording an average speed of 90.7mph and claiming three wickets to help England establish a commanding position. However, the 31-year-old bowler cast doubt on the accuracy of the speed measurements, suggesting the equipment rather than his own performance may have been responsible for the eye-catching figures.
"Nah, the speed gun isn't working properly," Archer said. "I saw some of them [speeds] and I was like, it didn't really feel that way. I don't know who's up in the box working it, but thanks. I remember playing here in the Ashes in 2019 and thinking the same thing. Maybe the speed guns are a little bit dodgy here."
England's four-man pace attack dismantled Pakistan's batting order, with Ollie Robinson taking four wickets and Josh Tongue responsible for two as the visitors were bowled out for 110. This gave England a 180-run first-innings lead after the hosts had reached 290 all out. According to a national sports broadcaster's report, England extended their advantage to 261 runs by lunch on day two, with Archer's wicket of Shan Masood and Tongue's dismissal of Abdullah Shafique disrupting Pakistan's reply early on.
Archer's fastest delivery in the spell reached 94 mph, with one account recording a 92 mph bouncer to Shafique during his early five-over burst. Despite the impressive readings, Archer remained sceptical about their reliability.
How did the England attack perform overall?
The depth of England's seam bowling proved decisive in reducing Pakistan to their lowest total. Archer praised his teammates for their collective contribution, noting that the quality of support meant individual bowlers did not need to overextend themselves.
"Everyone chips in. Ollie's been phenomenal since he started [playing] again. Gus and Tonguey, everyone's picking up the slack," Archer said. "With this attack you don't have to go and do too much. You don't have to try too hard. You know someone's going to back you up."
Gus Atkinson remained unrewarded on this occasion despite being part of the four-man pace unit. According to one analysis, Stuart Broad suggested Archer "could have walked away with 5-for," while Archer's figures were recorded as 3-26 from 11.2 overs across his contribution to the match.
Who stood out for Pakistan?
The 21-year-old opener Azan Awais emerged as Pakistan's sole bright spot, reaching 46 before pulling Robinson to deep square-leg. Saud Shakeel managed the next highest score with 16, highlighting the extent of the batting collapse. Awais's resilience in difficult circumstances offered a rare moment of encouragement for the struggling touring side, demonstrating the composure Pakistan desperately needed during their Test crisis.
Archer offered a backhanded compliment to Awais's innings, noting the young batter's ability to survive despite repeated lapses in technique.
"I've never seen someone play and miss so many balls and not get out," he said. "But whatever he did, he did it well. Fair play to him."
Pakistan head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed acknowledged the severity of the batting performance while maintaining hope for a recovery.
"We've done a lot right in this Test – we've bowled better, but the batting is definitely a concern," said Sarfaraz. "At the moment, as a batting unit, we are not up to the mark. But we're still hopeful. You never know, anything can happen in cricket. I hope we can get them out for another 70 or 80 and chase a target of 350 or so. So we hope for the best."
Sarfaraz praised Awais's performance against quality bowling, viewing the experience as valuable for the young player's development.
"England have a great bowling attack right now. In the morning, Jofra Archer to Azan Awais, I think that was a great spell. The way that kid handled it, I think it's good for his career. That time that he batted, facing quality bowling, will be a big boost for him."
What happens next?
The second Test is scheduled to run from 27 to 31 August 2026 at Lord's. Pakistan will resume their second innings as they attempt to reduce England's substantial lead, with the match outcome likely to hinge on whether the visitors can mount a meaningful batting response or whether England's pace attack continues to dominate.
Key Facts
- Archer averaged 90.7mph during his spell, his fastest in Test cricket, though he questioned the accuracy of the speed gun readings
- England's pace attack took all ten Pakistan wickets, with Robinson claiming four, Tongue two, and Archer three
- Pakistan were bowled out for 110, giving England a 180-run first-innings lead after the hosts scored 290
- Azan Awais's 46 was Pakistan's highest individual score, with only one other batter reaching double figures
- The match continues at Lord's through 31 August 2026 with Pakistan facing a significant deficit
