'Not spending enough time in the middle' – Sarfaraz Ahmed laments Pakistan's batting woes

Pakistan's batting has become a pressing concern during their Test series against England. The team suffered an innings defeat at Leeds in the first Test, where they scored 171 and 135 across two innings while England posted 409. The struggles continued into the second Test at Lord's, which began on August 27, 2026, as part of the three-match series running from August 19 to September 13, 2026.

Pakistan coach Sarfaraz Ahmed has acknowledged the severity of the batting crisis, pointing to the team's inability to spend sufficient time at the crease as a fundamental issue. The opening phase of innings has proven particularly challenging against England's pace attack.

"See you can’t shy away from the fact that our team is getting bowled out in 30 or 35 overs. Obviously we have discussed this and the batters also have an idea about the fact that we are not spending enough time on the pitch. Yes, conditions are definitely challenging for the batters but whichever batter spends more time in the middle and plays 30 to 40 balls [will benefit]. The first 30-40 balls are difficult but if we can get past that, we will be in a better position," Sarfaraz said as quoted by Cricbuzz.

Young batter Azan Awais demonstrated resilience during the Lord's Test, facing quality bowling from England's pace attack. Sarfaraz praised the 21-year-old's application and composure under pressure, viewing his performance as a positive sign for Pakistan's batting future.

"I think hats off to Azan Awais. The way that boy handled that spell [from Archer], I think it’s very good for him and his career. He batted at a crucial time and faced quality bowling. As a batter, it will be a big boost for him," Sarfaraz said.

The opening phase of Test cricket demands strong technical foundations, according to the Pakistan coach. Batters must apply discipline and sound technique during the first hour to build partnerships and accumulate runs. Pakistan's overall performance in the series has been hampered by inconsistent batting despite improved bowling displays. The team has attempted to balance the squad composition to strengthen the batting lineup, yet the results have remained disappointing across both Tests.

"So I think the first hour, the first 40 or 50 balls, you need to play with good technique. If you talk about this Test match and the first Test, we could not bat well. We bowled a lot better in this match but there is definitely a concern over our batting. Because of this, we try to play a combination such that our batting is strong. But unfortunately even in this innings we could not bat well," Sarfaraz said.

The heavy schedule of Twenty20 cricket in the preceding year has been cited as a potential factor affecting the team's Test cricket preparation. However, Sarfaraz emphasised that professional cricketers must adapt effectively between formats regardless of their recent playing commitments. Despite the mounting pressure and series difficulties, the Pakistan coach remained optimistic about the team's prospects in the remaining matches. He acknowledged that cricket often produces unexpected outcomes and that opportunities remained for Pakistan to turn the series around.

"It is a big factor. Last year, we played nearly 40 or 50 T20 games. But I won’t say that is the reason - as professional players, we need to adjust [between formats]. I am still hopeful. A lot of unexpected things happen in cricket," Sarfaraz said.