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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Matthew Cooper

Stuart Broad hails England's "perfect day" and "fantastic" Jack Leach milestone

England are firmly in control of the second Test against Pakistan, having built a 281 run lead on what Stuart Broad hailed as a "perfect day" for Ben Stokes' side.

England quickly bowled Pakistan out for 202 in the morning session, securing a first innings lead of 79. They then extended that lead to 281 by the close of play, with Ben Duckett and Harry Brook both scoring half-centuries.

And Broad, who is at home on paternity leave after his fiancee Mollie King gave birth to their first daughter Annabella, has been working as a pundit for Sky Sports. "A perfect day," was his verdict on England's day two performance.

"It is hard to decide whether session one or session three was the better session for the England team. Obviously session three doesn't happen without the bowlers doing their stuff earlier in the day.

"It feels a long time ago now, but the pressure the bowling group created for Rizwan squeezed the game really. Then Duckett set the tempo beautifully opening the batting then Brook has taken over."

He was also full of praise for spinner Jack Leach, who became the 49th Englishman to take 100 Test wickets. And after Leach said it was "crazy" that he had reached such a milestone "because of how difficult I've found it at times", Broad praised Leach's continued development and said he has been "fantastic" for England under Stokes' captaincy.

"I love the fact Leach has taken 100 Test wickets," Broad added. "He is a great guy in the dressing room and always a positive guy. Stokesy has simplified it a bit for Leach I think.

"He has said you are keeping your fielders up; I don't care if you get hit for six or four over the top, I want them to keep trying that and when it goes wrong, you are going to have fielders who can catch it.

"I think he has developed and learnt a lot. He has played 31 Test matches and has played in all sorts of different conditions and his record is up there with English spinners. He has done a fantastic role for the side especially since Stokes has taken over."

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