England vs Pakistan 2nd Test: 5 difficult decisions the teams have to make ahead of the game

Pakistan made a welcome return to international cricket in the 1st Test against England, and started brilliantly to leave the hosts staring at defeat two days into the game.

However, Joe Root's side roared back spectacularly to bowl Pakistan out for 169 runs in their second innings and chase the 277-run target with 3 wickets to spare, on the back of a career-saving innings from Jos Buttler and a magnificent knock from Man of the Match Chris Woakes.

The visitors and their captain Azhar Ali have come under severe criticism since the defeat, with this pattern of Pakistan collapses all too familiar to fans. But despite their loss in the 1st Test, the team has a stellar record in England and can really fight back in this series.

Ahead of the 2nd Test, we take a look at 5 difficult decisions that Pakistan and England have to make for this game.

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#5 Do Pakistan persist with Shadab Khan?

With Pakistan opting to play two spinners in the 1st Test, Shadab Khan was given the nod to partner Yasir Shah in a leg-spin dominated attack. The youngster did impress with both bat and ball, but his numbers in the Test match - 45 runs in the first innings and 2 wickets - don't make for great reading.

Captain Azhar Ali opted to bring on Shadab very late in both innings, almost as if he expected the leggie to clean up the tail. Shadab is a far better bowler than that, and really should have been utilised more. Ali also claimed after the game that his team needs a fast-bowling all-rounder at No. 7, casting a doubt over Shadab's place in the XI.

Shoaib Akhtar hit out at Shadab's performance on his YouTube channel as well, and stated that the 21-year-old hadn't done enough to be persisted with in the 2nd Test. With Pakistan not really having a fast-bowling all-rounder, he might have to be persisted with and if he is, he must be given more responsibilities.

Fawad Alam is also waiting in the wings, and he could be given an opportunity in an attempt to solidify the batting order.

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#4 What should the toss-winning captain do in Southampton?

Pakistan's decision to bat first in the 1st Test at Old Trafford did seem to work in their favour until their capitulation in their second innings, leading to a very important question for this Test match - what should the toss-winning captain opt for?

In the previous Test against West Indies at Southampton, England won the toss and opted to bat, only to suffer a 4-wicket defeat. The game, as well as the 1st Test against Pakistan, showed that the spinners did get enough purchase in the final innings, casting a doubt over whether bowling first is the right option as well.

With the conditions expected to be overcast, the fast bowlers should get movement early on, and decision upon winning the toss can go either way.

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#3 Do England need to play Jack Leach?

Jack Leach was in England's reserve list for the 1st Test and with Dom Bess not doing much to justify his place in the XI, the Ashes hero could make a return to the Test playing XI.

The off-spinner always looked like picking up wickets when the batsmen looked to take him on, but he was largely ineffective when Pakistan were on the defensive. Bess is handy with the bat in hand, but Leach has proved to be difficult to dislodge, and the left-armer accuracy with the ball might just tip the scales in his favour.

England are yet to announce their squad for the 2nd Test and when they do, we could see Jack Leach make an appearance.

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#2 Does James Anderson still deserve a spot in the XI?

England's leading wicket-taker in Test cricket cut a frustrated figure throughout the 1st Test, especially when Ben Stokes dropped a catch of his bowling. James Anderson's recent form has been under immense scrutiny, with talks of retirement hovering ominously.

Anderson himself has attempted to dispel these claims but even if walking away from the sport is not in his plans, England might drop him for this game. With only 1 wicket to show for in the 1st Test, the fast bowler hasn't made much of an impact when the conditions aren't heavily in his favour.

Anderson is still lethal in overcast conditions, though, and could be persisted with in the game at the expense of Jofra Archer. Although the Barbadian-origin pacer hasn't been bowling full tilt, he has produced flashes of brilliance as well as displayed the ability to clean up the tail.

With Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes all but undroppable now, we could see either Anderson or Archer axed for the game.

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#1 How do England replace Ben Stokes?

Although Ben Stokes wasn't at his best against Pakistan in the 1st Test, he is the centrepiece of the England team across all formats. His recent Test performances have been extraordinary, and he has contributed in every innings with either bat or ball.

Stokes will miss the rest of the Pakistan series due to family issues, and England have a massive void left to fill. Sam Curran is on the bench and is the obvious choice to replace him, but that leaves the middle order looking threadbare. Zak Crawley is another option on the bench, and the 22-year-old even scored a fluent fifty against West Indies.

Both players might make their way into the playing XI, with Crawley a direct replacement in the middle order and Curran taking up the spot of either Anderson or Archer.

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Also Read: England vs Pakistan 1st Test Player Ratings