England’s new four-man pace attack absolutely dismantled Pakistan, dismissing them for just 109 runs on day two of the second Test at Lord’s. While some might caveat this with Pakistan’s batting quality or home conditions, what’s clear is that England has stumbled upon something genuinely encouraging after Ben Stokes’ retirement, building a potent lineup that looks ready to challenge tougher opponents.
This New Attack Isn’t Just About Pure Speed
Captain Joe Root said it himself after the first-Test win, these bowlers “do not know how good they can be,” praising the insane variety they bring. It’s a huge step up from his previous captaincy, which often relied on similar right-arm seamers. This new quartet is all about differential pace, a lesson learned after prioritizing high-speed bowlers in last winter’s Ashes. Jofra Archer was touching 95mph in his quickest opening spell yet, while Ollie Robinson was chilling around 78mph at the other end. Josh Tongue’s average pace across the series is actually higher than Archer, even if Archer delivers more over 90mph. Gus Atkinson slots in right below Tongue and Archer, making for a truly dynamic group. Archer even joked he could play until he’s 40 with how these guys are sharing the load! Former England captain Michael Vaughan nailed it: “It is a good attack. They can all get better and that is a really good sign.” He thinks they’ll challenge even Australia “quite nicely if they bowl like this.”
Robinson’s Control Is Unstoppable
What Ollie Robinson lacks in sheer pace, he absolutely dominates with skill. This guy just took four more wickets on Friday, bringing his summer total to 17 wickets at an average of 8.84 across three Tests. The lively English pitches help, sure, but Robinson’s superpower is his control of line and length. Against Pakistan, he hit a good length with a ridiculous 70% of his deliveries! Atkinson, the next closest, was at 52%. Robinson relentlessly tested Pakistan’s batters, giving them nothing easy to hit. He bowled 31 straight deliveries without giving up a single run on Friday, and his 13 overs, which cost only 11 runs, were the most economical figures by a pace bowler bowling 10 overs or more in England in 13 years! Vaughan wasn’t messing around when he called him “an extraordinarily skillful bowler,” adding that England is pushing him to consistently hit 81mph. If he gets there, he’ll challenge any batting line-up, anywhere. He’s been the tone-setter they desperately needed last winter.
This England attack, with its incredible variety and Robinson’s surgical precision, isn’t just winning games. They’re building something that could seriously shake up the international scene. We’re talking about a group that has the potential to challenge one of the best batting lineups in the world. It’s early days, but the signs are absolutely screaming for an epic showdown with Australia down the road. You gotta be hyped for what’s next!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by BBC Sport.
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