It was a gloomy, overcast and rain-interrupted day at Emirates Old Trafford. What shafts of light there were came from the blade of Babar Azam, the great batting hope of Pakistan cricket. At 25 years of age, he should be entering his prime and an England tour, in front of a worldwide audience glued to televised cricket because of Covid-19 restrictions, is a perfect opportunity for him to show off his talent. England supporters may be more unaware of his standing than some, because he has played only one Test innings in this country before now, and that an interrupted one when Ben Stokes fractured his forearm at Lord’s two years ago. He was discomfited occasionally by the short ball, a reminder of that previous

Source: The Times August 05, 2020 19:30 UTC