Friday is the only sold-out day of this third Test but whether that translates into a full house remains to be seen. Much like the series itself, the contest is long since over, set in motion by Pakistan’s howling collapse on the first day and then compounded by England’s ruthlessness on the second.
Although for all that England’s march to a 3-0 clean sweep appears a formality, there should in theory be a decent chunk of cricket to enjoy. Joe Root’s side are still eight wickets away from enjoying a weekend at leisure, with Pakistan, set to resume on 52 for two, 268 runs away from making them bat again.
It follows a dominant outing with the bat from England that turned 156 for four in the morning into 453 all out by tea. That said, three men still trudged off despondently. Harry Brook needlessly ran himself out on 75, Dan Lawrence chopped on for 65, while Jamie Smith fell for 69 after batting through the pain of a suspected broken finger. In all three cases, a Test century went begging.
When Ollie Robinson, fresh from a trolley-dash half-century of his own, chugged in after tea and knocked over two batters in his first over, it looked like the match might be over in two days. Saim Ayub sent his first ball flying to Harry Brook at second slip to complete a pair for the parachuted-in opener, before Abdullah Shafique then gallingly feathered the fourth to Root at first slip.
The daft thing was this dramatic double-wicket maiden was not even Robinson’s best opening salvo of the summer, having knocked over three New Zealanders in his first over at Lord’s back in June. Swapping a few words with Shafique on departure, Robinson looked like a man in the mood for a quick kill.
As it was, rain that swept in from the west cut the evening session to only 12.4 overs and the final image of the day was not Robinson’s wild-eyed celebrations but the covers spread over the outfield. One chance did go down before they came on, however, with Shan Masood dropped by the diving Ben Duckett at third slip on 13.
That Root had returned to first slip to claim his 220th career catch – reclaiming the outfield record from Steve Smith in the process – may have been down to two drops by Duckett there on day one. Equally, it might have been a realisation that his bowlers no longer need his input from mid-off, such is their hold over Pakistan.
Although Gus Atkinson, the man denied by Duckett’s leaky buckets, could probably have done with Root’s arm around his shoulder. In a series where England’s quicks are chewing up their opponents like it is a speed-eating contest, Atkinson has somehow claimed one for 172. The poor bloke has bowled alright too.
Root will doubtless stress that the end result is everything, even if Brook, Lawrence and Smith were probably still chuntering about their dismissals as the team bus made its way back up the Pershore Road. England trowelled 143 runs on to their stash in the morning, 154 more after lunch. But unless something absurd happens, Duckett’s 113 at Trent Bridge in June will remain their only century this summer.
Brook was most culpable, adding 23 to his overnight 52 before setting off for a single that never was and throwing his bat in disgust when this was confirmed. The 27-year-old is England’s top scorer this summer, the only guy averaging over 40, and is the No 1-ranked batter in the world. But more than a year has passed since he last tasted three figures and the brain-fades are still a factor here.
That suicidal single off Ayub’s part-time off-spin was a bonus for Pakistan, likewise Lawrence’s playing on to hand the all-rounder Mohammad Imran his maiden Test wicket before lunch. The No 6 had been purring up to this point, whipping or driving his nine crisp fours during England’s sprightly start. Little wonder he let out an audible cry when he heard the stumps shatter behind him.
Unbeknown to all, Smith had suffered a finger injury on the opening day that later saw Jordan Cox deputise with the gloves. Emerging after the fall of Brook at 229 for five, Smith played and missed a bit early on but soon got going with some lusty blows off Ayub. In the end another promising innings was ended by a bit of nip and leading edge that the giant Razaullah gobbled up in his follow-through.
Pakistan’s sole bright spark on day one, Razaullah finished with four wickets in his first outing, even if 148 in the runs column from 23 overs underlined how raw he still is. The 21-year-old’s full-throated celebrations point to a fast bowler with fire in the belly, at least. Given his attributes – tall, strong, and whippy – Pakistan’s sorry tour may in time at least be remembered as the start of something significant.
With so much time left, there was no need for Root to even consider a declaration even after the tailenders started to appear. And in a rare period of afternoon sunshine, they made merry against weary bowlers. Robinson, 50 from 47 balls, and Jofra Archer, 32 not out from 27, certainly enjoyed themselves, both men launching the second new ball into a Hollies Stand that has been light on numbers this week.
Atkinson, 19 from 36 balls and a solid ally to Smith earlier, was therefore outdone by his peers with the bat too. Unlike the batters whose work is likely now done for the summer, at least he still has a chance to buff up those curious bowling figures when the third and likely final day begins.
