Windies batsman Shai Hope makes history by becoming the first player to record two centuries in the same first-class match at Headingley
England will need to overcome recent history as well as a buoyant Pakistan side when they attempt to square the two-match Test series at Headingley.
The Yorkshire venue has been anything but a happy hunting ground for England of late – the home side have triumphed there just twice in eight Tests during the past decade.
Five of those eight matches have ended in defeat for England, including their five-wicket loss to the Windies last year, following off the back of heavy reverses against New Zealand in 2015 and Sri Lanka in 2014.
The Windies defeat was notable for the performance of Shai Hope, who became the first player to score a century in both innings at Headingley with knocks of 147 and 118 not out.
England captain Joe Root gave his thoughts after what was an unexpected loss at Headingley to a Windies side heavily beaten in the previous Test
Hope led his side’s successful run chase of 322 – the third highest ever completed in England – to secure their first Test victory on these shores since 2000.
When New Zealand were the visitors to Headingley two years prior, the two sides matched each other with 350 apiece in the first innings before BJ Watling’s effort of 120 guided the Kiwis to 454-8 declared second time around.
Unsurprisingly, that weight of runs proved too heavy for England and they were bowled out for 255 despite Jos Buttler’s half-century… which might sound like a familiar scenario.
In 2014, England’s hopes had also been scuppered by a big second innings total for the visitors, with Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews hitting 160 out of his side’s 457.
Windies coach Stuart Law joined Ian Ward after his side recorded a famous victory over England at Headingley
That left England needing exactly 350 to win, but Moeen Ali was left stranded on 108 not out as the Sri Lankan spinners dismissed them for 249 – Jimmy Anderson sinking to his knees as he succumbed to the penultimate ball of the game.
Pakistan, who lead the current series 1-0 after crushing England by nine wickets at Lord’s, were victorious in their most recent Test at Headingley – technically a ‘home’ match against Australia in 2010.
Mohammad Amir – also one of the main architects of England’s downfall in the Lord’s Test – captured seven Australian wickets in that 2010 encounter.
Pakistan rolled the Australians over for just 88 in the first innings and, although they were eventually set an awkward target for 180, they scrambled home by three wickets following a middle-order collapse.
Overall, England’s record against Pakistan at Headingley is a strong one – they have won five and drawn three of the nine Test meetings between the sides in Leeds, with Pakistan’s sole victory coming in 1987.
That was the only result of the five-match series, with Imran Khan returning remarkable match figures of 10-77 to dismiss the home side for 136 and 199 as Pakistan triumphed by an innings and 18 runs.
But, there is another Headingley statistic which should give Joe Root’s side some cause for optimism after their woeful batting display in the first Test: at least one England player has scored a century in each of the last six Tests staged at the ground.
Both Root and his predecessor as captain, Alastair Cook, achieved that feat against New Zealand in 2013, while two other members of the current side – Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow – have also contributed tons during that period.
You can see every ball live on Sky Sports Cricket when the second Test at Headingley gets underway on Friday from 10am.
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Sourse: skysports.com
