Pakistan's Batting Woes Continue in Test Series Against England
Pakistan's Struggles on the Opening Day
The performance of Pakistan's batting lineup has once again come under scrutiny following a dismal showing on the first day of the third and final Test against England at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on September 9.
After being invited to bat first by England's captain Joe Root, Pakistan was dismissed for a mere 133 runs in just 33.5 overs, despite favorable overcast conditions. Saud Shakeel's resilient 43 runs and a 26-run partnership for the last wicket with Mohammad Abbas (26) offered a fleeting moment of resistance, but it was insufficient to save a team struggling under pressure.
England's Bowling Dominance
The English pace attack, featuring Olie Robinson (3/15), Jofra Archer (3/25), and Josh Tongue (4/42), made quick work of the Pakistani batsmen, demonstrating once again that English conditions combined with a top-tier bowling unit pose significant challenges for visiting teams.
A Series of Disappointing Innings
Pakistan's Test series in England has become a cautionary tale of batting failures in swinging conditions. Under the leadership of Babar Azam, the team has failed to surpass the 200-run mark in any of their five innings, revealing a collective inability that overshadows individual skills.
In the first Test at Headingley, Pakistan scored 171 and 135, followed by 110 and 194 in the second Test at Lord's. The ongoing Edgbaston Test saw them manage only 133 runs, solidifying a dismal batting campaign.
Overall, Pakistan has accumulated 743 runs across five innings, averaging just 148 runs per innings. Alarmingly, only one player, Saud Shakeel, has managed to score a fifty in the first two Tests, as the team consistently struggles against England's relentless seam attack.
Recent Changes in the Team
Prior to the Edgbaston Test, Pakistan cricket has been in the spotlight for negative reasons, following a significant mid-series shakeup that resulted in seven players being dropped, including Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, and Imam-ul-Haq. Additionally, head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were dismissed, with white-ball coach Mike Hesson stepping in as an emergency red-ball caretaker.
After suffering a 0-2 series defeat with heavy losses at Leeds and Lord's, Pakistan's opportunity to salvage some pride in England is quickly slipping away.
Comparative Performance with Shubman Gill
Pakistan's total runs across three Tests serve as a stark reminder of their batting collapse. Their 743 runs are 11 runs short of Shubman Gill's individual tally of 754 runs during his Test tour of England in 2025.
Gill's debut Test series as captain against England last year was record-breaking, where he scored 754 runs in five matches and 10 innings, including four centuries, averaging 74.5. He fell just 57 runs short of breaking Don Bradman's record of 810 runs in a debut Test series as captain.
In the Edgbaston Test, while Pakistan's lineup struggles to form basic partnerships, Gill amassed 430 runs across both innings, with scores of 269 and 161, leaving a lasting impact on the English bowling attack. This is the same ground where Pakistan's current team finds it nearly impossible to survive.
Conclusion
Pakistan's batting issues have unfolded like a tragic narrative, with each innings revealing a painfully familiar pattern. Averaging just 148.6 runs per innings, the team has turned a prestigious Test series into a test of endurance for all the wrong reasons.