Key events
Ali Martin
Day one report
In jettisoning seven players from their squad, parachuting seven more in, and then making four changes to their XI, Pakistan went into this third Test against England pretty much throwing mud at the wall in the hope that some of it might stick.
Some did, in fairness, with the newcomer Razaullah dismissing Joe Root after tea on the opening day with just his fourth delivery in Test cricket. Propelling the ball from a slingy, chest-on action that has a smidgeon of Waqar Younis in his pomp – and hitting 92mph on the speed gun – the 21-year-old’s figures of two for 42 offered a glimmer of cheer for Pakistan’s otherwise downbeat supporters.
Sadly their team’s broader slide continued and by stumps – even with just 73 overs bowled despite a mere five-minute rain break – England’s upper hand in a series they have already secured at 2-0 up remained. Having dismissed the tourists for 133 in just shy of 34 overs after winning a helpful toss, Root’s men closed on 156 for four and will go into day two leading by 23 runs.
Preamble
How do you do? Enough of the pleasantries, can we please talk about Razaullah? At this stage he could be the new Waqar Younis or the new Mohammad Zahid, so we shouldn’t get carried aw- ah, sod that. At the end of a thoroughly dispiriting series, Razaullah’s fervent, uncomplicated fast bowling – full, straight, 90mph; mind the bloody pads, lads – was a welcome reminder that Pakistan cricket will always touch the parts other nations can’t reach.
In the opulent history of irresistible Pakistan fast bowling, figures of 9-0-42-2 don’t amount to much, but it was the first bit of haal we’ve seen all series. England fans needed it; Pakistan fans needed it; Pakistan cricket really needed it.
What Pakistan need this morning is for Razaullah and his more forensic companion, Mohammad Abbas, to keep the match alive by taking a shortcut through England’s middle- and lower-order.
England will resume on 156 for 4, a lead of 23, with Harry Brook well set on 52 not out. It’s a measure of how good Brook is, and how much better he might become, that he played a responsible, almost subdued innings and still scored at a strike rate of 68. Brook hasn’t made a Test century since he panelled an astonishing and ultimately infuriating 111 against India at the Oval 14 months ago; he’ll be desperate to right that wrong today.
If Brook goes early, it’s not beyond the realms that this will be the last day of the series. The Edgbaston pitch looked pretty good yesterday, even though 14 wickets fell, so the nature of the day’s play may be shaped by the overhead conditions. I’ve asked our cricket correspondent Ali Martin for a comprehensive weather update.
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