Despite his absence, Anderson was actively guiding England’s bowlers by sharing his valuable insights through WhatsApp. His presence is especially significant as England are without their regular captain, Ben Stokes, who is sidelined due to a hamstring injury.

The second day of the first Test between Pakistan and England is currently underway, with Pakistan resuming their innings. Anderson’s experience will be crucial in helping England’s bowling attack during the match.

Anderson played a key role in England’s previous tour of Pakistan in 2022, where he featured in two Tests and took eight wickets. Since his retirement in July, he has taken on a mentorship role for the team.

Playing XI

Pakistan: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmad.

England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (captain), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir.

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