Nasser Hussain says any side in world cricket would struggle against England bowling attack in current conditions
England's four-pronged pace attack has skittled Pakistan for under 200 four innings in a row with Ollie Robinson taking 16 wickets in two games at an average below eight and a fit and firing Jofra Archer bowling his quickest opening spell in Tests; England hold unassailable 2-0 lead
Sunday 30 August 2026 20:51, UK
Nasser Hussain says any side in the world would find it tough against England's bowling attack in current conditions after they shredded Pakistan yet again to help Joe Root's side to a series win with a game to spare.
An inexperienced Pakistan outfit have been skittled for under 200 in all four innings so far, only batting in excess of 50 overs once, with the relentless accuracy of Ollie Robinson complemented superbly by the pace of Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson.
Thoughts have inevitably turned to how the quartet may fare in the home Ashes next summer, a series England will be looking to win for the first time in over a decade, while there is also a mouth-watering assignment in South Africa in prospect this winter.
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Speaking after Root's men rolled Pakistan for 194 on day four at Lord's to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match contest, Sky Sports pundit Hussain said: "That four-pronged attack looks really strong, offering so many different things.
"Robinson is hugely skilful, Tongue has the angle, Atkinson has his skiddy pace and Archer is just box office. When he bounced out Babar Azam it reminded me of the spell he bowled to Steve Smith in the 2019 Ashes.
"I wouldn't judge them on how they go against Pakistan but I think pretty much any side in world cricket would find it hard work against this attack, in these conditions.
"I also think this attack would have gone really well in the last Ashes and I think it will go really well in South Africa but it will be tested more."
Robinson impresses - but more questions to come
The metronomic Robinson has led the way with 16 wickets across the first two Tests at an average of just 7.18, and when you add in his seven-wicket match haul against New Zealand at Lord's in June, his record for the summer is a remarkable 23 scalps at 8.34.
The 32-year-old had spent over two years in the international wilderness before his recent recall, mainly due to fitness concerns, but his return has been a raging success and highlighted just what England were missing during their Ashes drubbing last winter.
Hussain said of Robinson: "England bowled in some very useful conditions in The Ashes and kept dishing up short and wide deliveries - Travis Head could not believe the amount of cut shots he got away.
"It's been nice these last few months to see an England opening bowler using the skills he has to target the stumps and the pads, making sure he is always in the game. That's what Robinson does from the first ball to his last.
I would find Robinson a nightmare to face in these conditions as at times you are putting your bat there and guessing if you are going to hit it.
"There will be more questions asked of him, on difficult pitches to bowl seam on - his fitness will have to come into play. But in these conditions, he's England's best bowler - as good as you get
"For someone who was left out of the side for quite some time to suddenly come back and be England's best bowler is some achievement. You have to take your hat off to him.
"He now has to ask himself, the backroom staff, and people like Stuart Broad and James Anderson, 'what do I need to do to become the complete bowler?' That's how you grow as a player and a team."
Hussain: Archer has looked fit all summer
Archer, who has deserved more than the eight wickets he has picked up in the series so far, bowled his fastest opening spell in Test cricket when he clocked an average of 90.7mph against Pakistan in the Lord's Test, according to CricViz.
Hussain added: "I spoke to Archer here during the ODI series against India this summer and he said 'I am consistently bowling well' - and not in an arrogant way.
"Everyone has also noted how fit Jofra has looked all summer.
"People were worried when he came back from the IPL whether he had got enough overs and workload in and he was left out of the first Test against New Zealand. But he has played a lot of cricket since, playing all the time.
"Stuart Broad made the excellent point that when he worries about fitness, speeds and rhythm is when bowlers play and then don't play again for a month. Jofra playing all the time means he can sustain his speeds."
Why Root will be 'slightly frustrated'
Broad has also been enthused by England's attack and feels there is no need to break it up by introducing a frontline spinner - but he warned the bowler-friendly conditions means only so much can be gleaned from their success.
The Sky Cricket expert added: "Robinson has hit immaculate areas and moved the ball consistently. The other seamers hit 90mph consistently, so you have variety.
"My belief is that we don't have a good enough spinner so why bother when you have South Africa away and the Ashes next summer?
"Root will be delighted with what he has seen but what will frustrate him slightly is how much the ball has been doing.
"I don't think we are learning a huge amount about the bowling unit or batting unit as it has been such different conditions.
"You don't see Test match batters get bowled or lbw as much as we have seen this summer and that is due to conditions.
"I don't know if we will end the summer going, 'we have learnt so much about this team, we are positive about what's coming in the future', but two wins out of two is exactly what you'd expect and the team have delivered."
Watch day one of England's third Test against Pakistan, from Edgbaston, live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 10am on Wednesday September 9 (11am first ball). Not got Sky? Latest Sky Sports deals or stream contract-free with NOW.
England vs Pakistan - results and schedule
All games live on Sky Sports
- First Test (Headingley) - England won by innings and 103 runs
- Second Test (Lord's) - England won by 194 runs
- Third Test (Edgbaston) - September 9-13
