England’s batsmen had been outwitted by Pakistan’s debutant spinner Abrar Ahmed, who took seven wickets on the opening day of the second Check in Multan.
Having received the toss and elected to bat with assured excessive following that dramatic first Check victory, England discovered themselves struggling to determine the brand new boy.
Ultimately, England had been bowled out for 281 earlier than Jimmy Anderson and Jack Leach struck earlier than the shut to go away Pakistan on 107 for 2, with captain Babar Azam unbeaten on 61.
Sportsmail’s David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd picks out his speaking factors from day one.
Abrar Ahmed left England in a spin as he took seven wickets on the primary day of the second Check
Plenty of speak of fog in Multan however fortunately no delay to the beginning of the second Check.
It jogs my memory of the nice weatherman Michael Fish. It got here within the days of magnetic letters on the BBC charts and on a very foggy day the ‘F’ stored on dropping off.
So after selecting it up about 4 instances Fish uttered the immortal line ‘I am sorry concerning the F in fog…..’
The prospect of fog in Multan jogged my memory of an immortal uttering by the BBC’s Michael Fish
Within the aftermath of Rawalpindi, Babar Azam mentioned he needed a pitch with spin. Properly, he is obtained one. And he is obtained a spinner in Abrar Ahmed who bowled exceptionally nicely on debut.
I’ve mentioned it so usually – the one factor you want in these situations is a wrist-spinner with a little bit of thriller. Abrar was an absolute magician on day one and England could not decide his googly. Abrar Cadabra!
Prior to now when England have come up towards this type of spin within the sub-continent they’ve battened down the hatches and gone nowhere.
However with this mantra of taking them on at the very least they put runs on the board. They may have been bowled out for 281 however earlier than the Ben Stokes-Brendon McCullum revolution they’d have been dismissed for 150….
Instances have modified since Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum took over the England workforce
So England are within the sport however they then got here up towards top-of-the-line batters on the planet in Babar Azam.
He performs each format, is good in any respect of them and is turning into one of many true Pakistan greats now.
And that is saying one thing as a result of they’ve had some good ‘uns. I might say Babar is turning into pretty much as good as any Pakistan batsman we have seen.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam batted fantastically and is one in every of his nation’s all-time greats
Plenty of spin and plenty of choices for the umpires to make. There was virtually a stand-off at one level between Aleem Dar and the TV official Joel Wilson over whether or not one in every of Ben Duckett’s many sweeps had hit his glove.
I keep in mind within the early days of DRS Aleem would usually shake his head within the center at TV choices. However I believe umpires on the entire like utilizing know-how now…
Each groups are going to have to make use of their evaluations correctly on this Check.
There are going to be so many tight choices in the remainder of this match the very last thing you wish to do is waste one on a lesser participant.
I reckon they need to save them for one of the best gamers as a result of a DRS choice might be essential within the end result of what might nicely be one other tight Check…
One among Ben Duckett’s (pictured) sweep pictures virtually led to a stand-off between two umpires
I used to be lucky to have been in Multan the final time England performed a Check there in 2005. Check cricket was new to city and a lodge had been constructed for the event.
Solely it wasn’t completed once I arrived. Once I obtained to my room they had been hammering the carpet down. The chap put the important thing within the door and it fell in.
Then he drew the curtains and the whole thing fell down. And when he put the sunshine on all of it fused! I take it the lodge is prepared now..
Danesh Kaneria celebrates a wicket as Pakistan defeated England by 22 runs in Multan, 2005
