England’s bold mission to transform Test cricket rewarded with Rawalpindi win


image-lbespg5iEngland won a riveting Test match at Rawalpindi [Source: Associated Press]

There is something magnificently feral about a fielding team collectively striving for victory as the clock ticks down and the light fades on day five of a Test Match. In a race against time as much as a battle of wits against their opponent’s diminishing resources, the pack encircles its cornered prey. 

Eyes are bright and focused, limbs coiled poised to strike. As the denouement approaches, exhaustion from the chase is negated by the scent of the prize. 

This final scene has played on many stages around the world in the one hundred and forty-five years of Test cricket history. Seldom, however, have the events that preceded it been so dramatic or epoch making as in Rawalpindi where England achieved only their third ever Test victory in Pakistan. 

Jack Leach, who struck the final blow, removing the commendably stubborn Naseem Shah, felt that it shaded even the Ashes pyrotechnics of Headingly in 2019 and many, even Ben Stokes himself, now England’s inspirational captain, would agree. 

What sets this victory apart, not just for England, but for Test cricket universally, is the way it was achieved. If, as some have felt, the pinnacle of the red ball game has been meandering self- indulgently in the manner of 1970’s progressive rock, then this England are the punk rock antidote. 

They are rock and roll pumped into the veins of lounge bar crooning. And like Dylan electrifying folk, they will potentially define the game for a generation. 

Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes had clearly stated their intent in the summer, backed up to spectacular effect on the field. This England will ‘walk towards danger’ and be prepared to risk defeat in relentless pursuit of victory. 

A draw must never be the objective, only acceptable if every muscle and sinew has been strained to breaking point looking to win. The question remained though as to how would that play out on a lifeless Rawalpindi wicket, the cricketing doldrums where Australia and Pakistan had most recently been becalmed. 

The list of first-time records set by England particularly, but also their opponents, provide testimony to the extraordinary events that enabled England to claim their win in the nick of time, just before umpires Wilson and Raza reached for their light meters. Take a deep breath and read on. 

1,768 was the most runs ever in a 5-day Test match (although South Africa and England still hold the most ever in Test, but in 1939 at Kingsmead they played for nine days)

506 was the most runs ever compiled on the first day of Test, eclipsing the 494 set by Australia in Sydney in 1910

The two 200 plus opening stands achieved by Zack Crawley and Ben Duckett for England and Imam-ul-Haq for Pakistan was a Test cricket first 

image-lbess3a6Duckett and Crawley added more than 200 for the first wicket [Source: Associated Press]

Four batters scored one hundred on the opening day of Test match and three scored 100 in less than 100 balls in the same innings

Other England only records tumbled too as Ben Duckett became the first England keeper/batter to score 100 off less than 100 balls and Harry Brook hit six fours in a Test over. 

One record still standing is Gilbert Jessop’s 1902 ‘fastest England century’ (76 balls), having survived near misses by Jonny Bairstow at Trent Bridge and now Harry Brook in Rawalpindi. Don’t bet on it lasting too much longer though. 

England knew that the only way to force a result either way, was to power the game forwards on the first day and allow time to take wickets on the feather bed track. The game though still had plenty of ebb and flow, for extended periods with considerably more ebb than flow. 

Fate too played a remarkable hand. Ben Foakes’ indisposition opened the door for Liam Livingstone and his subsequent jarred knee forced Will Jacks into the bowling limelight to take a six - wicket haul on debut. At least one England centurion was only in Pakistan at all due to Johnny Bairstow’s golfing mishap. 

Jimmy Anderson is the only member of the England squad to have played when England last toured here, but on the final day, he alongside the slimmed down and muscled up Ollie Robinson finally found the elusive reverse swing to carve eight wickets from the resolute Pakistan rear guard. 

Amongst pace bowlers, only Norman Cowans in 1984 has take more fourth innings wickets in Asia for England. 

If we are honest, how many fans and pundits felt that England’s fourth day declaration was too generous? Pakistan certainly set about their chase with belief and for long periods looked odds on to succeed until Robinson removed Agha Salman and Azhar Ali in rapid succession.

 From there, they did the one thing England would not have done and tried to hold out for a draw. Ben Stokes who himself had bowled twenty hard overs deserving more than one wicket, aggressively and imaginatively ratcheted up England’s pressure in the field.

Statistics can probably never really tell the full story off this 74- run victory. More telling were Ben Stokes comments in the aftermath. “Test cricket is the pinnacle. It needs to be looked after. 

If we can make a little indentation into the way others play the game then it will do the world of good”. This England are on a mission to win by entertaining at all costs. They will always try to do at least one of those and the game will be richer for it. 


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