England vs Pakistan: Conundrums for England ahead of second Test at Old Trafford

Defeat at Lord's leaves England on the ropes in their attempts to hold all nine Test series trophies

James Anderson should return for the second Test against Pakistan, but for who? (Getty)

This time last week England were clearing their throats in their game of cricket bingo. Not anymore. That full house of nine series trophies they were hoping to shout about with victory over Pakistan suddenly looks a taller order than they may have imagined.

A four-Test series leaves no margin for error if England are to turn it around now that they find themselves 1-0 down with three to play after their emphatic defeat at Lord’s. And it was emphatic. Although the home side only lost by 75 runs in the end they were never really in the game once Joe Root inexplicably gave his wicket away in the first innings. There were glimpses of hope - when England had Pakistan 60 for 4 for example – but nothing more.

With the next Test starting at Old Trafford on Friday, England have no time to feel sorry for themselves - instead they need to make quick decisions over personnel and performance or their dreams of making it nine out of nine could be dust in seven days’ time. They have named a 14-man squad for Manchester - but it raises as many questions as answers.

Anderson back for whom?

James Anderson, England’s leading Test wicket-taker, proved his fitness over the weekend and is back in the squad. Some feel, namely captain Alastair Cook and coach Trevor Bayliss, that he should have been proving his fitness at Lord’s not in Lancashire but that’s gone. The question now is who he comes in for.

Steven Finn remains an utter conundrum. The bowler prompts more head-scratching than a plague of nits at a primary school. He was woeful in the first innings at Lord’s: a knee niggle from the previous week played on his mind, his run-up was stuttering, his direction was off and his pace was down. In the second knock he found his rhythm and built his speed.

Cook and Bayliss are Finn fans as they know he can win Tests (the captain couldn't have been more gushing in his pre-series praise): in South Africa over the winter he took 11 wickets at 26 in three matches and against Australia last summer 6 for 79 to win the Edgbaston Test. But he took no wickets against Pakistan in 34 overs for 128 runs. Is the odd burst of sunshine worth it if you have to stand in the rain for the majority of the day?

If Finn doesn't drop out Jake Ball will probably be the one to make way. The Notts bowler made his debut at Lord’s where he had match figures of 1 for 88 which don’t quite do his performance justice. He was accurate, quick and parsimonious with an economy rate of 2.5. But was it enough?

Will Rashid play?

Adil Rashid is back in the squad as England ponder playing their own leg-spinner having seen the antics of Pakistan's Yasir Shah, the newly-installed best bowler in the world (step aside Anderson). With Moeen Ali in the side it is unlikely Rashid will be in the starting XI unless the Old Trafford track looks like a ripping turner, in which case Finn and Ball would have to step aside. Unless, of course, Rashid replaces Ali. It seems unlikely England would drop their premier off-spinner who has been a regular in the team for the last couple of years - especially as they are off to Bangladesh and India - spin twin heaven - in the winter. Rashid's call-up could also be a gentle reminder to Ali - he who unfurled one of Test cricket's most ludicrous shots as England slid to defeat against Pakistan - that he needs to up his game with bat in hand.

Bring back Stokes

Ben Stokes is the epitome of what England under Bayliss want to be. Brash, exciting and daring. He has proved his fitness for Lancashire over the weekend so should return to the XI. But for whom? Chris Woakes has gone from fill-in to undroppable after his 11 wickets at Lord’s – not to mention his dedication with the bat that put some of the upper order to shame. So Stokes returns for Vince or Ballance? Tough on Ballance who has had one Test back and actually applied himself well in the second innings at Lord's. And tough on Vince, too, who showed flashes of what he can do in the second innings against Pakistan, while always flirting with danger. If Stokes comes in for Vince, Ballance would have to move up to No 4, with Stokes at No 5. All this moving up and down the order is in danger of making England dizzy. Alternatively Stokes could replace Finn/Ball giving England a pace attack of Stokes, Broad, Woakes and Anderson which keeps Ballance and Vince in the middle order and means England bat down to Broad at No 10.

Should Root stick at 3?

On that subject, if England persist with James Vince at No 4 and Gary Ballance at No 5 it is a worryingly callow middle order. Moving Root back to 4 as the filling in between two inexperienced batsmen may work better but Bayliss has urged him to make that leap now and would look daft to go into reverse. Root may be keen, though. He spoke about his promotion before the Test and it was clear that he has taken some prompting to jump up to first drop.

Playing Pakistan bowlers

England’s confusion about how to take on Yasir got them in all sorts of trouble at Lord’s. From Ali’s ugly swipe to Jonny Bairstow being bowled trying to pull and Ballance being done behind his legs it was a mess. They need to knuckle down in the nets and copy the lead of Bairstow (pre-dismissal) and Woakes from day four in London. Patience is key, tire him out, make him bowl to you. The right-handers also need to work out when to play and when to leave the left-arm pacemen who are slanting the ball across them - or Pakistan are in for a summer of slip catching practice.

There are decisions to made and work to be done for England.