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First Test, Multan (day one of five)
Pakistan 328-4 Masood 151, Shafique 102; Atkinson 2-70
England: yet to bat
Scorecard
England got a late reward at the end of a grueling opening day’s play on their tour of Pakistan, who were taken to 328-4 by centuries from Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafique.
Two years ago England recorded an unprecedented 3-0 victory here but with a different team and different conditions, this was always going to be a tough task.
And that proved to be true after Pakistan won the coin toss in sweltering heat and had the chance to bat first on the flattest of pitches.
Gus Atkinson had Saim Ayub caught on the leg side in the fourth over but opener Shafiq and captain Masood put the score at 253 for the second wicket.
Masood overturned the dismissal of England debutant Brydon Kearse for LBW on the 16th and stand-in captain Ollie Pope could have released Shafiq on 34.
In the end, both players were within 17 tosses, Shafiq to Atkinson for 102 and Masood to Jack Leach for 151. At 263-3, England were still hoping to end the day with a more productive performance. But when Babar Azam and Saud Shakir added 61 each, those hopes were dashed. And when Chris Woakes pinned Babar down, that became a reality.
McCullum is right to be realistic
Brendon McCullum said before the match that England were realistic about the challenge ahead. Perhaps the coach had those days in mind.
McCullum also defended the late arrival of bowling agent James Anderson, who was so instrumental in England’s success as a player two years ago. Short of coming out of retirement, it’s hard to imagine what Anderson could have done to help England combat the odds.
The coin toss was decisive. Despite talk of a green pitch, the surface was scraped off just before the start of the match, leaving a quiet, run-filled batting paradise. Apart from Pope’s call as he struck the coin, there wasn’t much else England could try. This couldn’t have been tougher for a young spinner in Shoaib Bashir and a pace attack that had barely played overseas, with another Leach playing his first Test since January. Despite 35-degree temperatures, limited preparation time, and the absence of injured captain Ben Stokes, England stuck to their guns. Their performance was impeccable, earning them the coveted scalp of Babar.
Tourists can take solace in the fact that the course will probably still be in good condition when they step up to bat – it’s just a matter of when.
Masood and Shafique cash in
Masood and his team are under pressure. Pakistan is without a home win in 10 Tests and Masood has lost all five games under his management, including a 2-0 defeat to Bangladesh in August.
But Masood has openly shown his admiration for England’s attacking spirit and showed some aggression himself after Ayub tickled the side of his leg after Atkinson’s 10th delivery of the day.
How different would England’s situation have been if Kharth’s delivery that drew the LBW call had not fallen just outside Masood’s leg stump, or if Pope’s drive had dived just in front of the batsman and hit the non-batsman’s stump just as Shafiq struck. In the field, Pope might have had time to remove the crossbar himself.
The left-handed Masood played through covers and Shafiq played towards midwicket. Both men attacked Bashir but were not stopped by the England bouncers. It was Shafiq’s 100th Test his first since July 2023, and Masood’s first in four years.
Both fell in quick succession, suffering from cramps. Shafiq drove Atkinson through Pope’s covers and Masood threw the return catch to Leach.
Babar looked menacing at 30 but then he played with Woakes and at 35 Shakir was alongside the night watchman Naseem Shah.
England hang in
Pace bowling had been key to England’s success here two years ago, so a fresh-looking attack had attracted attention ahead of this match. Woakes had a terrible record abroad, Atkinson had never played away from home before and Kearse had never played for England.
England lacked experience and support; the ball barely had any swing or turn and offered little to any type of bowler.
Woakes started well before his effectiveness faded. Kash was lively and was asked to bowl bouncers in the 15th over of the day, but England overdid this. Bashir was costly and often lacked control.
England were led by Atkinson and Leach. Atkinson’s ball to catch Ayub was perhaps his worst of the day, but he then energetically executed his plan to drag Shafiq into a loose drive.
The left-handed Leach was overlooked during the home summer, despite being the only one of England’s top bowlers to have played for Pakistan. He was England’s most economical bowler, far ahead of Bashir. 44 44 44 As dark fell, Woakes received the second new ball which was slammed onto Babar’s front pad to take his seventh Test wicket in Asia, his first since 2016.
