England's Half-Centurions Shine, But Regrets Linger Against Pakistan
Jordan Cox showcased his talent with a solid 73 in his first Test innings, contributing to England's strong position on day two against Pakistan in the first Test at Leeds. Despite four players scoring half-centuries, including Harry Brook (91), Joe Root (66), and Dan Lawrence (51), the team felt they left opportunities on the table. Cox expressed his disappointment, stating, "We were hoping one of us would have kicked on and instead of make it just a hundred, make it 150, 160, 170. And then the game looks, not completely different, but it puts us in definitely a better position." England concluded the day at 366 for eight, establishing a 195-run lead over Pakistan. On a challenging day for Pakistan, Ali Usman emerged as a bright spot, claiming five wickets for 92 runs. Cox remained optimistic, saying, "Hopefully, the boys can get 50 runs tomorrow. You never know, we’ve still got Jamie [Smith] at the crease there and Jofra [Archer], who can still give it a good whack." Reflecting on his performance, Cox admitted mixed feelings about missing out on a first international hundred: "I let myself down a tiny bit, but at the end of the day, you take 70, don’t you?" In other news, Sam Curran's Test comeback has been postponed due to a groin injury, ruling him out for the remainder of the English summer. As England considers life after Ben Stokes, Curran will undergo surgery and miss the third Test against Pakistan starting on September 9 at Edgbaston.
Source: The Guardian Sport - 2026-08-20