The Pakistan tour of England 2026 has reached its second leg. After an eventful series opener at Headingley, both sides now head to the most iconic ground in world cricket — Lord’s, London — for the 2nd Test. Here is everything you need to know about the match: date, venue, likely playing XIs, the result of the previous game, and answers to the most-searched cricket questions right now, including the India vs Sri Lanka Test series.
Match Snapshot
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | 2nd Test, England vs Pakistan |
| Series | Pakistan tour of England, 2026 |
| Tournament context | ICC World Test Championship 2025–2027 |
| Venue | Lord’s Cricket Ground, London |
| Match days | Thursday 27 – Monday 31 August 2026 (5-day Test) |
| Start time | 11:00 BST daily (Lunch 13:00–13:40, Tea 15:40–16:00, Close 18:00) |
| England captain | Joe Root |
| Pakistan captain | Salman Ali Agha |
| Series score before this Test | To be decided after the 1st Test at Headingley concludes |
Full Series Schedule
| Match | Venue | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Tour warm-up (PCC Select vs Pakistan) | Beckenham | 13–15 August 2026 |
| 1st Test | Headingley, Leeds | 19–23 August 2026 |
| 2nd Test | Lord’s, London | 27–31 August 2026 |
| 3rd Test | Edgbaston, Birmingham | 9–13 September 2026 |
What Happened in the Previous Matches
Tour warm-up match (Beckenham): Pakistan got their tour off to a strong start, beating PCC Select by 7 wickets. Chasing 264 on the final day, Saud Shakeel anchored the chase with an unbeaten century (100 off 147 balls) after Pakistan’s bowlers had restricted PCC Select to 198 in the second innings despite trailing by 67 on first innings.
1st Test, Headingley (Leeds): This match marked Joe Root’s return as England Test captain following Ben Stokes’s retirement. Pakistan were bowled out for 171 after a rain-hit opening day, with Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue both claiming five-wicket hauls. Abdullah Shafique (61) and Imam-ul-Haq (42) added 91 for the third wicket, but the rest of the innings folded quickly. In reply, England closed the opening day on 112 for 2, trailing by 59 runs, with Joe Root and Jordan Cox unbeaten. As of the latest update, this Test is still in progress — the result will decide the series scoreline heading into the Lord’s Test.
Likely Playing XI — 2nd Test, Lord’s
England (probable)
| No. | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emilio Gay | Opening batter |
| 2 | Ben Duckett | Opening batter |
| 3 | Jordan Cox | Top-order batter |
| 4 | Joe Root (capt) | Batter |
| 5 | Harry Brook | Batter |
| 6 | Dan Lawrence | Batter/part-time spin |
| 7 | Jamie Smith (wk) | Wicketkeeper-batter |
| 8 | Gus Atkinson | Fast bowler |
| 9 | Jofra Archer | Fast bowler |
| 10 | Ollie Robinson | Fast bowler |
| 11 | Josh Tongue | Fast bowler |
Ollie Pope is back in the squad and pushing for a place, while Shoaib Bashir is the spin option in reserve if Lord’s offers turn later in the game.
Pakistan (probable)
| No. | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Azan Awais | Opening batter |
| 2 | Imam-ul-Haq | Opening batter |
| 3 | Shan Masood | Top-order batter |
| 4 | Abdullah Shafique | Batter |
| 5 | Saud Shakeel | Batter |
| 6 | Mohammad Rizwan (wk) | Wicketkeeper-batter |
| 7 | Salman Ali Agha (capt) | All-rounder |
| 8 | Ali Usman | Spinner |
| 9 | Khurram Shahzad | Fast bowler |
| 10 | Mohammad Abbas | Fast bowler |
| 11 | Mohammad Ali | Fast bowler |
Babar Azam is expected to return to full fitness after being struck on the hand during the warm-up game, and could be added to the middle order if selectors want extra batting depth.
Head-to-Head (Last 5 Meetings)
| Result |
|---|
| Pakistan won by 9 wickets |
| Pakistan won by 152 runs |
| England won by an innings and 47 runs |
| England won by 8 wickets |
| England won by 26 runs |
Also read:- India Tour of Sri Lanka 2026
Q1. Where will the England vs Pakistan 2nd Test be played? The 2nd Test will be played at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, from 27 to 31 August 2026.
Q2. What is the date of the 2nd Test between England and Pakistan? The match starts on Thursday, 27 August 2026, and is scheduled to run through Monday, 31 August 2026, with play beginning at 11:00 AM local time each day.
Q3. Who won the last match between England and Pakistan? The 1st Test at Headingley was still in progress at the time of writing. Pakistan were bowled out for 171 on day one, with England replying strongly at 112/2. Pakistan did win the tour warm-up match against PCC Select by 7 wickets before the Test series began.
Q4. Where will the Sri Lanka vs India Test series be played in 2026? India’s 2026 tour of Sri Lanka is a two-match Test series. The 1st Test was played at the Galle International Cricket Stadium (15–19 August 2026), and the 2nd Test is being played at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground in Colombo (23–27 August 2026).
Q5. What is the date of the 2nd Test match between Sri Lanka and India? The 2nd Test between Sri Lanka and India is scheduled from 23 to 27 August 2026 at the SSC Ground, Colombo, starting at 10:00 AM IST (local time) each day.
Q6. What is the schedule for the India tour of Sri Lanka in 2026?
| Match | Venue | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Warm-up (SLC XI vs India) | NCC Ground, Colombo | 7–9 August 2026 |
| 1st Test | Galle International Stadium | 15–19 August 2026 |
| 2nd Test | SSC Ground, Colombo | 23–27 August 2026 |
This is a pure red-ball tour, with no ODIs or T20Is attached, and both Tests count towards the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 points table. India won the 1st Test at Galle by 165 runs.
Q7. Why is Jasprit Bumrah not playing the 2nd Test against Sri Lanka? Bumrah has been ruled out of the entire Sri Lanka Test series because of a left-knee issue that flared up during India’s ODI series in England earlier in the year. Although there is no major structural damage, the BCCI medical team advised him to take more recovery time rather than risk aggravating the injury by returning too soon to red-ball cricket. With a heavy international calendar coming up — including a home Border-Gavaskar Trophy later in the season — the team management has prioritised his long-term fitness over playing him in this series.
Q8. Who is captaining India and Pakistan/England in their respective series? Shubman Gill captains India in the Sri Lanka Tests (KL Rahul is vice-captain), while Joe Root leads England and Salman Ali Agha captains Pakistan in the ongoing Test series in England.
Q9. Is the England vs Pakistan Test series part of the World Test Championship? Yes. All three Tests between England and Pakistan form part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025–2027 cycle, so results directly affect both teams’ standings and qualification chances for the WTC final.
Q10. Where can I watch the England vs Pakistan and India vs Sri Lanka Tests live? In India, both series are broadcast on the Sony Sports Network (TV) with live streaming available on the SonyLIV app and website. In the UK, the England vs Pakistan series airs on Sky Sports Cricket.
Quick Reference Table — Both Series at a Glance
| Series | Format | Venues | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan tour of England 2026 | 3 Tests | Headingley, Lord’s, Edgbaston | 19 August – 13 September 2026 |
| India tour of Sri Lanka 2026 | 2 Tests | Galle, SSC Colombo | 15–27 August 2026 |
Schedules, playing XIs, and squads are subject to change closer to the toss due to fitness updates or team management decisions. Please check official broadcaster channels on match day for the confirmed playing XI.
