Friday at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium roused the senses of everyone except the bowlers in this region. The importance of the resumption of international cricket was highlighted by Pakistan’s response in the face of a mountain of runs scored by England, which left the locals in raptures and underscored the importance of the conclusion of noon prayers.
After the play, the difficulty of claiming 20 wickets on this pitch was also very evident. Pakistan scored 181 without loss in 51 overs in response to England’s 657 all out in 101, with Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique undefeated on 90 and 89 respectively. Their visitors were the first Test team to score more than six runs per over in the first innings, but it was a very calm ride.
Ben Stokes sensed he may have to be inventive in the field before his first away Test as captain, and as Harry Brook sprinkled more stardust in the morning, turning his overnight hundred into 153 from 116 balls, confirmation came like a sugar high collapse. Unorthodox fields, a short-ball strategy, and attempts to harness reverse swing — Stokes attempted many things, but opportunities were scarce and the three carved out were not converted.
The first two were conceded by Ollie Pope, a not-inexperienced part-time wicketkeeper who was also not the required specialized reserve un this region. Ben Foakes succumbing to a virus was in the loss of one of their trump cards in the subcontinent, and when Jack Leach nicked Iman’s outside edge on 11, Pope’s inability to catch the ball underscored the loss.
The next opportunity for Pope did not come until the 34th over of the reply, and his effort could not be blamed. Jimmy Anderson, who had bowled 37,505 balls in Test cricket before his first on Pakistani territory, was in the midst of his second period when he confined Shafique on 54 with a short ball that was edged down the leg.
Umpire Joel Wilson delivered a gentle signal of out upon asking the third umpire to check after Pope’s low fly to his left appeared to have been a spectacular catch. On one of the replays, the ball appeared to make contact with the ground before landing in Shafique’s glove, allowing him to resume play while Anderson grumbled in the England huddle.
In the subsequent over, Leach was again denied, this time by a flip by Shafique that was intercepted by substitute Keaton Jennings at short leg. The kind that either sticks or doesn’t, England’s fielders again heaved irritated sighs, Imam and Shafique putting their heads down and dominating until the light finally gave way.
After injuring his knee on the pitch, Liam Livingstone did not bowl, but there was a first look at Will Jacks. The 24-year-old is as unpolished as his first-class average of 47 suggests, despite his off-sound spinner’s elements, such as the dip from the revs imparted or the height from which he delivers. His length was erratic, and against two batters who were accustomed to pitching on such grounds, he was easily navigated with deft footwork.
In the press box, Ramiz Raja was underwhelmed, as were the majority of bowlers thus far — England’s past six wickets fell to audacious strokes. The chair of the Pakistan Cricket Board was holding court over lunch, and despite being impressed with England’s approach and execution with the bat, he did not like this surface. Little has changed since the stalemate against Australia earlier this year.
Despite the lack of a duel between bat and ball, the crowd’s overwhelming enthusiasm kept things intriguing, and the Barmy Army trumpeter’s version of “Dil Dil Pakistan” was met with great glee.
However, nothing could compare to the din when Imam and Shafique either pierced the infield or went over the top on their way to the fifth consecutive century stand by a pair of Test openers on this ground.
For the roughly 200 traveling supporters, the most memorable moment occurred during the long morning session, when the day was readjusted to accommodate prayers.
England’s overnight score of 506 for four became their best total in Asia, surpassing the 652 for seven declared by Graeme Fowler and Mike Gatting in Chennai 37 years ago by five runs, albeit in 74 fewer overs.
Stokes danced down the pitch to Naseem Shah and belted the second ball of the day for a beautiful six, as England pressed the throttle immediately upon waking. Four deliveries later, though, Pakistan’s most experienced bowler in terms of Test caps (14) was erupting in delight, and Stokes was out after backing away and forcing a single off his stumps.
Brook soon shined, however. The Yorkshireman, unsatisfied with equaling Ian Botham’s England record of 24 runs off an over the day prior, smashed six, four, four, four, six, and finally a three off the hapless Zahid Mahmood for a total of 27 runs to win the championship uncontested.
His 150 came off just 115 balls, the fastest in England’s Test cricket history until he was eventually run out.
Brook, a right-handed player who sets up conventionally, possesses all of the modern player’s 360-degree techniques. The first of these sixes was a switch hit that flew past cover, and the second was lofted directly over the leg-head. spinner’s
It was magnificent batting, but the contributions of Jacks, 30, and Ollie Robinson, 37, signaled the impending difficulty.
