Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett get England off to fast start in Pakistan
England’s attacking brand of cricket reached new heights as Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett powered the visitors to 174 without loss at lunch on day one of the first Test against Pakistan at Rawalpindi.
Crawley almost looked as though he had prepared to play a T20 match when he struck 14 off his first five balls of the game, and although the rate slowed slightly, he went into the break unbeaten on 91 from 79 balls.
Having waited 17 years to play Test cricket in Pakistan, England almost had to wait a bit longer when the match briefly faced being postponed by 24 hours.
Around 13 to 14 members of the touring party were affected by a viral infection but all but Ben Foakes recovered in time for the scheduled start of play, and it was confirmed the match would go ahead as planned on Thursday morning.
Will Jacks was handed a surprise debut, with Ben Stokes forced into making one change from his proposed XI due to the wicketkeeper still suffering from the illness in the camp, and Ollie Pope was awarded the gloves instead.
It was a very hazy morning at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, and the visitors continued to embody their attacking and entertaining brand of cricket which was cultivated under the leadership of Stokes and Brendon McCullum.
Recalled to the side for the first time since 2016, Ben Duckett showed his versatility in Pakistan, sweeping both ways to reach 77 from 85 balls as the home side’s inexperienced bowling attack struggled to stem the flow of runs.
Only 19-year-old Naseem Shah had made his debut before the game, with Mohammad Ali, Haris Rauf and Zahid Mahmood all making their first Test match appearances.
England scored at an almost inconceivable rate, hitting 141 from the first 20 overs, and had already reached more than 100 before the first drinks break.
Latest
-
Women's Cricket
It’s a lot of fun – Heather Knight still enjoying captaining England
Knight succeeded Charlotte Edwards, who had a decade-long stint in the position, in June 2016.
-
England
On this day in 2018: Kevin Pietersen retires from professional cricket
The latter years of the Pietermaritzburg-born maverick’s career were spent on the T20 circuit.
-
England
Jofra Archer snaps off stump on impressive return from injury in India
The 28-year-old took two for 22 in seven overs.
-
County Cricket
Darren Gough steps down as managing director of cricket at Yorkshire
Gough said it was the “right time” to move on having been in the post since December 2021.
-
England
On this day in 2004: Steve Harmison takes seven for 12 against West Indies
The pace bowler produced a devastating spell at Sabina Park 20 years ago.
-
England
Jos Buttler feels refreshed and ready to enjoy ‘best years’ of his career
England’s white-ball team endured a poor 2023 which culminated in the disastrous defence of their World Cup crown in India.
-
England
Jos Buttler confident ‘special cricketer’ Jofra Archer will be fit for World Cup
Archer has not represented his country since last March when he featured in a T20 match in Bangladesh.
-
Indian Premier League
England batter Harry Brook withdraws from IPL following death of his grandmother
Brook pulled out of England’s five-Test tour to India before the squad flew out from their training camp in the United Arab Emirates.