(WS News) As Pakistani fans come to grips with the disappointing whitewash by Bangladesh—once viewed as an underdog—Pakistan has faced yet another defeat, this time against England, who executed their game plan flawlessly.
Pakistan’s Winless Streak Persists
Pakistan’s lack of victories at home continues as they succumbed to England at Multan Cricket Stadium, marking their 11th consecutive match without a home win since 2021. Captain Shan Masood has lost all six matches under his leadership, making him the first Pakistan captain to lose six Test matches in a row. The last captain to experience a similar fate was Javed Burki in 1962, who lost three of five Tests.
England, on the other hand, has now secured their fourth consecutive victory against Pakistan, following a 3-0 whitewash two years ago.
England Makes History
Despite conceding 556 runs in their first innings, the English team remained resolute. Joe Root and Harry Brook took charge, amassing a record-breaking partnership of 454 runs, propelling England to a total of 823/7—the fourth-highest score in Test history. This is only the fourth instance of a team scoring over 800 runs in an innings, with the last occurrence by Sri Lanka in 1997.
Notably, England became the first team to score 800 runs against Pakistan, surpassing the previous record held by the West Indies of 790 runs in 1958. Additionally, this total is the highest ever by any team in Pakistan, eclipsing Pakistan’s own 765 runs against Sri Lanka in 2009.
Pakistani Bowlers Set Unwanted Record
For the first time, six Pakistani bowlers conceded over 100 runs in a single innings against England in Multan. The only other instance of this occurring was in 2004 with Zimbabwean bowlers against Sri Lanka.
New Partnership Record Established
Joe Root and Harry Brook’s partnership broke the previous England record of 411 runs set in 1957, and also surpassed the highest partnership against Pakistan of 446 runs established in 1958. The overall record for Test partnerships remains 624 runs, set by Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara in 2006.
Harry Brook’s Remarkable Innings
Harry Brook reached his triple century in just 310 balls, making it the second-fastest in Test history, behind Virender Sehwag’s 278 balls. Brook’s 317 is the fifth-highest score for England in Tests and marks the first triple century by an English batter since Graham Gooch in 1990. He has also made centuries in all four Tests he has played in Pakistan, a first for any player.
Joe Root Continues to Break Records
Joe Root’s sixth double century (262 runs) brings his career total to 12,664 runs, making him England’s top run-scorer, surpassing Alastair Cook. He now ranks fifth in all-time Test run-scorers and has hit 35 centuries, the sixth-most in history.
Need for Aggressive Play
Pakistan’s loss by an innings and 47 runs highlights significant issues within the team. Their cautious tactics on favorable pitches and lack of self-belief are detrimental. To regain their fans’ trust, Pakistan must adopt a more aggressive approach. Their tendency to play it safe has led to missed opportunities and disappointing results, as evidenced by their slower scoring compared to England.
Inconsistency in Performance
Pakistan’s inconsistency is evident in their inability to convert strong first-innings scores into wins, often faltering in the second innings. Recent matches show a pattern of poor performance under pressure, with their bowlers struggling to maintain control.
New Selection Committee Announced
Off the field, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has also faced criticism. After England’s easy victory, the PCB announced a new selection panel, including Aleem Dar, Aaqib Javed, and Azhar Ali, alongside existing members. Fans are understandably upset and deserve to see their team make a strong comeback.
