Were one to design a set of laboratory conditions under which to assess a band of batting hopefuls, they would probably look rather different to those endured by England in this Pakistan series. Pockmarked pitches, challenging overheads and troublesome balls have formed a pretty unpleasant cocktail; a visiting bowling attack largely incapable of exerting concerted pressure have at least made it slip down a little easier.
Still, though, England may feel they have learned relatively little about Emilio Gay, Jordan Cox and Dan Lawrence. Each has flashed without really flourishing – Lawrence’s three 50s mark him ahead of the other two, though his runs have been made from the relative comfort of No 6 and he did not manage to go past 65. Gay looks a pleasing strokemaker in full flow but has not been able to find that fluent state often enough; like any opening batter needs to, he has at least shown a capacity to scrap and scrape for runs, though there was a rueful look as he wandered off for a 60 that could or should have been more at Edgbaston. Cox could be said the most assured technique of the three, and steadied the ship successfully in partnership with Joe Root in the last run chase. That innings showed the temperament that England, evidently, like.
