Pakistan Vs England Test Series
Third Test Played at Ageas Bowl Southampton from 21st to 25th August 2020
Brief Scorecard at Stumps on Day Three
England 1st Innings 583 /8 Declared in 154.4 Overs (Zack Crawley 267, Jos Buttler 152, CR Woakes 40, JR Root 29, Fawad Alam 2/46, Shahin Afridi 2/141, Yasir Shah 2/ 173, Asad Shafiq 1/24 ) , Pakistan 1st Innings 273 All Out in 93 Overs ( Azhar Ali 143* , Mohammad Rizwan 53 , JM Anderson 5/ 56 , SCJ Broad 2/ 40 ) , Pakistan 2nd Innings 187/4 ( Babar Azam 63* , Abid Ali 42 , Azhar Ali 31 , J Anerson 2/45 )
Match Drawn
England Won the Series 1-0
Man of the Match: Zack Crawley
Man of the Series: Jos Butller and Mohammad Rizwan.
Rain and inclement weather impacted England Pakistan enthralling test series just concluded. England sort of hijacking test win from the grasp of Pakistan in the first test at Manchester won the series 1-0. The rain impacted second test at Southampton ended in a tame draw. Pakistan following on in the third test with generous assistance of weather managed salvaging a draw. The outstanding feature of the third test was English bowling lion James Anderson rewriting few pages of cricket history. He achieved the glorious milestone of achieving the dream distinction of 600 wickets haul being the first pace bowler doing that. None but Pakistan captain Azhar Ali was his victim for the 600th wicket. Only Muttiah Muralidharan (800 Wickets in 133 tests), Shane Warne (708 wickets in 132 tests) and Anil Kumble ( 619 wickets in 132 Tests) are now ahead of him. All three however were spinners. For pace bowlers playing 156 tests in 17 overs deserves hats off accolades, well done Jimmy. Pakistan had also lot to take pride on their performance. Off course losing the first test after dominating all the way till last session of the last day was frustrating. But the way the young Pakistan seam attack with Abbas included teased and tormented English batsmen paying them back on their own coil was itself a testimony how Pakistan continues producing top quality pace bowlers. There were indeed very little to choose between the two sides,
Lady luck finally cam the way of Pakistan. Forced to following on after England declaring at 583/8 and Pakistan managing 273 riding on a marvelous 141 not from Capatin Azhar Ali Pakistan could salvage an honorable draw with generous assistance of the nature. Only 83.1 overs were possible over two days and a bit. However, it also required a special innings (63*) from a very special Pakistan batsman Babar Azom and stubborn resistance from Abid Ali (42) and Azhar again (31). Captains agreed to call it a day with Pakistan managing 187/4 with some overs left in the match.
Most importantly Jimmy Anderson took his 600th wickets making Azhar nicking to English captain Roots.
We know Pace bowlers hunt in pairs and sometimes three and four are together. World cricket has seen Trueman- Statham, Lindwall –Miller, Hall –Griffith –Gilchrist, Lillee –Thomson, Marshal –Roberts – Holding – Garner, Wasim- Waqar –Imran – Shoaib. Now there is Starc – Cummins – Hazzlewood. But among them Anderson – Broad are unique in the sense that in between them they have taken 1114 wickets. How skillfully they complement each other.
Looking back in retrospect Pakistan can also look back with pride. Teenager Nasim Shah, young Shahin Shah and wonderful seamer Mohammad Abbas constantly teased and tormented English batsmen. Two rare superior quality leg spinners Yasir and Shadab makes this bowling unit threatening for any side. When Nasim and Shahin matures along the way will win many matches if only batsmen give them enough to bowl. Shan Masood played a wonderful innings in the first test. Abid Ali came on his own in the third test. Azhar found his superlative form in the third test. Babar looked a class apart all through. Asad Shafique had a lean time. I think Mohammad Rizwan was wonderful in front and behind the wicket. Pakistan should work on few batsmen like Imam ul Haq. Fahim Ashraf should be developed as an all-rounder. Pakistan must take lot of positives from the series.
England won two series back to back, playing 6 tests over very short time requires lot of quality, mental strength and consistency. We think in English condition having Anderson and Broad together is a huge advantage. They can exploit the English condition better than many. Archer and Wood would be asset to English attack in Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. Not to forget about Chris Woakes and Sam Curran as bench strength, England needs some quality spinners.
England has to find a better opening batting pair. Crawley is a great find at number three, Roots, Stokes, Pope, Buttler and Woakes makes a very secure middle order. Somewhere sometime Jonny Bairstow, finally England deserves accolades for playing 6 tests in 7 weeks entertaining Corona locked down cricket admirers across the cricket world.
BDST: 1212 HRS, AUG 26, 2020
AP
