Multan Challenge: England Holds Firm Against Pakistan

Multan often referred to as the City of Saints presented a considerable challenge for England on the first day of their Test match against Pakistan. With a relatively inexperienced bowling lineup, a flat pitch and scorching heat, the conditions were not in England’s favor, particularly against a motivated Pakistan team keen to end their ten-match winless streak at home. Despite these obstacles, England showed resilience.

Pakistan’s captain, Shan Masood scored a remarkable 151 runs, supported by Abdullah Shafique’s 102. Nonetheless, England managed to stay competitive, with Pakistan finishing the day at 328-4. As they entered the dressing room, England maintained their morale, indicating they could still find a way into the match. The stark differences from their previous 3-0 series victory in 2022 became apparent.

Pakistan seemed stronger on paper and the uncomfortable October heat marked a significant contrast to their earlier encounter in December. The absence of seasoned bowlers like James Anderson and Mark Wood further weakened England’s pace attack which included Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse, all of whom were untested in these challenging conditions.

England’s bowlers struggled to create an impact on a pitch that Cricviz noted as one of the flattest for a Test’s opening day since 2007. However, their fielding was commendable and Ollie Pope’s captaincy displayed creativity reminiscent of Ben Stokes. A significant moment for England came when Woakes made a late breakthrough, dismissing Babar Azam with a skillful delivery, showcasing the type of bowling typically associated with Anderson.

Overall, despite missing their legendary bowler, England managed to remain competitive in a tough matchup in Multan.