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. Ollie Robinson passed 100 wickets in Test cricket, with the first of his three for 15 making him the first Englishman to do so with a sub-20 average since a young Ian Botham.
Josh Tongue whistled up four more of his own, while Jofra Archer, who openly admitted he was not looking forward to this week because of Edgbaston’s penchant for a flat one, walked off happy with three. Long term, however, England’s response with the bat was arguably the more significant half of the day. They got the better of the conditions, having rolled Pakistan under cloud cover and then enjoyed periods of sunshine thereafter.
But for Emilio Gay, who made his third Test half-century with 60 from 114 balls, it may be the innings that books him a seat on the plane to South Africa this winter. While Ben Duckett fell cheaply trying to land some early blows – and Jordan Cox succumbed to the charms of Mohammad Abbas lbw – Gay looked to play himself in and it was far from straightforward. The new ball zipped about, his running between the wickets produced the odd hairy moment, and he wore one eye-watering blow to his knee via an inside edge off the slippery Razaullah.
But by the time the Razaullah got another to cannon into the stumps half an hour before the close, Gay had good reason to appear so crestfallen, having gritted it out well while still unfurling nine silky-smooth fours. The left-hander’s stand of 105 with Harry Brook, who scrapped to 52 not out, was the kind of contribution that Root insists is worth more in a summer dominated by purveyors of wobble seam. Brook and Gay came together at a troubling 39 for three after Root’s 10th lbw dismissal in 13 innings.
England’s captain once again reviewed in hope rather than expectation before the big screen confirmed Razaullah’s dream-like start. For all that Pakistan’s mid-tour overhaul has been derided, this injection of slightly unorthodox raw pace does represent a return to their roots. Although as much as the youngster’s first outing was eye-catching, it could not mask what went before.
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