Half the England team was dropped for the Second Test at Trent Bridge and after Pakistan were out for 140 Barrington made a sheet-anchor 109 not out in England's reply of 252, an innings that lasted 409 minutes and 117 overs on a saturated pitch, which was enough for a 10 wicket victory. Barrington had been ordered by Close to take no chances, but E.W. Swanton wrote that "Barrington grafted away, an automatic slow-motion accumulator...the personification of the modern coldly efficient hyper-professional performance". Strangely he was defended by the old Surrey captain and big-hitter Percy Fender "I am no advocate of slow scoring...but there are times when the demands of the game, situation and the interests of the side make it necessary".