Olé for Robinson as England take firm control of Lord’s Test against Pakistan

Second Test, day two: England 290 81-3; Pakistan 110Ollie Robinson takes 4 for 11; Jofra Archer picks up threeJoe Root did not want the England captaincy when it started to be floated earlier this summer. After performing the role as a stand-in for the suspended Ben Stokes against New Zealand at the Oval, his father, Matt, asked about a full-time return as a hypothetical and has since said this was met with a “no”.Root was apparently then swayed by the impending arrival of Stephen Fleming as head coach, with the pair speaking regularly before roles were finally locked down. But watching this one-sided second day against Pakistan at Lord’s – and, indeed, the one-sided series opener at Headingley – one wonders whether being handed the keys to this pace attack was just as much of a clincher. Continue reading...