Pakistan's Batting Woes Continue in Final Test Against England
Disappointing Performance from Pakistan
Michael Atherton, a former cricketer for England, voiced his dissatisfaction with Pakistan's batting display during the first innings of the final Test at Edgbaston. He noted that the team's batting lineup appears "woefully low on confidence" and described the overall team morale as "dispirited."
Another Sub-200 Collapse
Pakistan's batting struggles persisted as they were bowled out for a mere 133 runs in just 33.5 overs, with Josh Tongue taking four wickets and Jofra Archer and Ollie Robinson each claiming three. Throughout the series, Pakistan has not managed to score 200 runs in any innings, with their highest total being 194 while chasing 389.
Historic Top-Order Failure
The top five batsmen for Pakistan all fell for single-digit scores, leaving the team at a dismal 24/5. This marks the second-lowest aggregate for a Pakistani top five in a Test innings since 2000, with the record still held by their 19 runs against England in Dubai in 2012. Additionally, this is the first time since 2013 that Pakistan lost five wickets for under 50 runs in the first innings.
Abdullah Shafique, who recently scored a remarkable 160* against the West Indies, continued his poor form with just three runs off 16 balls. He has struggled against Robinson, who has dismissed him five times in nine innings, resulting in an average of only 9.6 against the bowler.
Captain Babar Azam, who was named 'Player of the Series' during the West Indies tour, has yet to reach double figures in the UK, falling victim to the pace attack of Archer, Robinson, and Tongue.
'Chickens Coming Home to Roost'
Atherton commented on the decision to send seven players and two coaches home after the series loss, stating that such actions do not foster confidence within the team. He remarked, "A thoroughly miserable batting performance from them. It is a batting lineup woefully low on confidence. The decision to send seven players home - the chickens are coming home to roost. You cannot treat players like that and expect to build confidence in a side."
He further emphasized that professional athletes are aware that poor performance can lead to consequences, and the current state of the Pakistan team reflects a lack of morale.
Difficult Environment for Players
Former England pacer Stuart Broad echoed Atherton's sentiments, highlighting the challenging environment for Pakistan's players. He stated, "You often talk about playing with freedom, but the worst place you can be is feeling you need 20 or 30 runs to stay in the team. It is really impossible to play good cricket when you have that many off-field problems."
Razaullah: A Silver Lining
Despite the overall negativity, there was a glimmer of hope for Pakistan in the form of pacer Razaullah, who impressed with his ability to consistently bowl at 90 mph. His performance caught the attention of former England captain Nasser Hussain, who praised Razaullah for his pace and ability to trouble Joe Root, finishing the day with figures of 2/42 in nine overs.
"Pakistan have been calling out for something different from their bowlers for a long while," Hussain noted. "It is nice to watch that spell from Razaullah that had something, that had a point of difference, had some pace."
Day 1: Match Summary
In the match, Pakistan batted first after being put in by England. Saud Shakeel scored 43 runs off 47 balls, while Mohammad Abbas contributed 21 runs off 36 balls. Ultimately, Pakistan was bowled out for 133 runs. England ended the day at 156/4, with notable contributions from Emilio Gay (60 runs off 114 balls) and Harry Brook (52* runs off 76 balls).