Key events
Ali Martin
First day report
Having dropped seven players from their squad, parachuted out seven more and then made four changes to their squad, Pakistan went into this third Test against England largely throwing mud at the wall in the hope that some might stick.
To be fair, some did: opener Razaullah dismissed Joe Root after tea on the opening day with just his fourth delivery in Test cricket. Swinging the ball with a blistering chest stroke that had a bit of Waqar Younis in its pomp and clocking 92mph at the speed gun, the 21-year-old’s figures – two for 42 – brought a glimmer of joy to gloomy Pakistan fans.
Unfortunately, their team’s wider decline continued and, in just 73 overs, despite just a five-minute rain break, England’s lead in the series, which they had already secured at 2-0, remained intact. Having dismissed the tourists for 133 in just 34 overs after winning a useful toss, Root’s men closed on 156 for four and will head into day two with a 23-run lead.
Preamble
How are you? Enough pleasantries, can we talk about Razaullah? He could be the next Waqar Younis or the next Mohammad Zahid at this stage, so we shouldn’t get carried away, oh my gosh. At the end of a thoroughly dispiriting series, Razaullah’s fiery, uncomplicated fast bowling – full, straight, 90mph; Guys, remember the damn pads – it was a welcome reminder that Pakistani cricket will always touch places other countries can’t reach.
In the rich history of compelling Pakistani fast bowling, the numbers 9-0-42-2 don’t mean much, but that was the first part haal we’ve seen all the episodes. England fans needed this; Pakistan fans needed this; Pakistan cricket really needs this.
Pakistan will need Razaullah and his more experienced counterpart Mohammed Abbas to keep the game alive this morning by taking the shortest route through England’s middle and lower order.
England will resume at 156 for 4, with a lead of 23, with Harry Brooke well set for 52 not out. An indication of how good Brook is and how much better he can get is the fact that he played a responsible, almost restrained innings and scored 68 in the process. Brook has not made a Test century since he scored a stunning and ultimately infuriating 111 against India at the Oval 14 months ago; today he will desperately try to correct this mistake.
If Brooke leaves early, it’s entirely possible that this could be the last day of the series. Edgbaston’s pitch looked pretty good yesterday despite the fall of 14 wickets, so the nature of the day’s play may depend on the conditions overhead. I asked our cricket correspondent Ali Martin for weather details.