Pakistan’s batting crisis has reached an extraordinary point in their ongoing Test series against England. After three Tests, the entire Pakistan team is now just 11 runs short of the 754 runs Shubman Gill scored on his own during India’s five-Test series in England last year.Gill finished India’s five-Test campaign with 754 runs, establishing himself as one of the standout performers of the series. Pakistan, meanwhile, have managed 743 runs across the first two Tests and the opening innings of the third Test at Edgbaston.Their latest collapse, when they were bowled out for just 133 on Wednesday, has left Pakistan tantalisingly close to an unwanted statistical milestone.
Pakistan’s batting crisis deepens
The latest failure came at a particularly turbulent time for Pakistan cricket. Following defeats at Headingley and Lord’s, the Pakistan Cricket Board made sweeping changes to the Test setup. Seven players were removed from the squad, while the coaching staff was also sacked as the board attempted to shake up a side that had struggled badly during the series.Yet the changes failed to produce an immediate response at Edgbaston.Asked at the toss how difficult it had been to lead Pakistan through such turbulent circumstances, Babar Azam insisted the situation had not affected him.“Not difficult. Yes, after that we had a couple of changes, but I think a good opportunity to new boys, and yes we are trying to do our best in this match,” Babar said.The first session, however, suggested that Pakistan’s problems had travelled with them to Birmingham.
Another top-order collapse
Put into bat, Pakistan lost wickets regularly and were bowled out for 133.Ollie Robinson struck first, trapping recalled opener Saim Ayub lbw for a duck to claim his 100th Test wicket. Jofra Archer then accounted for debutant Azan Awais before Abdullah Shafique fell to Robinson.Shan Masood was next, caught at mid-wicket off Archer after another poor cross-bat stroke.Tongue then took over, dismissing Pakistan captain Babar Azam before removing debutants Ghazi Ghori and Imran Randhawa before lunch.Razaullah Khan fell for 11 in the afternoon session, leaving Saud Shakeel as Pakistan’s only meaningful resistance.Shakeel, who had made a fighting 97 in the defeat at Lord’s, top-scored again with 43 before Tongue bowled him with a sharp inswinging delivery.Archer finished with 3-25, Robinson took 3-15 from 11 overs and Tongue claimed 4-42 as Pakistan were dismissed for 133.England then extended their advantage in the first innings. Ben Duckett was dismissed for 11 by Mohammad Ali, while Jordan Cox fell for four to Mohammad Abbas. But Emilio Gay and Harry Brook both made fifties to put England in command.The hosts reached 156-4 by stumps, taking a 23-run lead despite Joe Root falling lbw for the 10th time in 13 innings.Robinson was particularly impressive, conceding just 15 runs in 11 overs as he moved from 99 to 102 Test wickets. His Test bowling average of 19.1 is the best among post-war bowlers with more than 100 dismissals.Pakistan’s 743 runs across the first three Tests so far make the Gill comparison impossible to ignore. Gill scored 754 runs by himself during India’s five-Test series in England last year. Pakistan have needed two complete Tests and one innings of a third to get within 11 runs of that tally. The comparison is a striking illustration of the gulf between individual consistency and Pakistan’s collective batting output during this series.