Record-breaking England thrash Pakistan in Multan Test: Decoding the stats
The England cricket team recorded a comprehensive innings win over Pakistan in the Test series opener in Multan. The game was truly a spectacle for cricket fans as England declared their innings at a mammoth 823/7. Notably, this score was posted in response to Pakistan's first-inning score of 556/10. The hosts were bundled out for 220 in the third innings, handing England a win on the final day. Here are the key stats.
How did the game pan out?
As mentioned, Pakistan hammered 556/10 batting first thanks to centuries from Abdullah Shafique (102), Shan Masood (151), and Agha Salman's 104*. In response, England were powered by Harry Brook's triple-century and Joe Root's double-ton. Zak Crawley (78) and Ben Duckett (84) missed out on tons as the visitors declared at 823/7, claiming a massive 267-run lead. Pakistan could only manage 220/10 in their second outing, losing by an innings and 47 runs.
Brook's triple-century: A record-breaking performance
Brook's phenomenal innings of 317 off 322 balls was his maiden 200-plus score in First-Class cricket. He now has six Test hundreds and nine fifties to his name. As per ESPNcricinfo, Brook has raced to 1,875 Test runs at an average of 62.50 with a strike-rate of 88.56. His record against Pakistan is especially impressive as he has scored 785 runs in four games against them, averaging a staggering 130.83 (100s:4, 50:1).
Brook equals record for most centuries by overseas player
Brook now shares the record for most centuries by an overseas player in Pakistan in Test cricket, having scored four tons in just six innings. He reached the milestone quicker than Mohinder Amarnath and Aravinda de Silva, who also have four centuries but took over 17 innings to reach it. Brook's triple-century was completed off just 310 balls, making him the second-fastest to achieve this feat after India's Virender Sehwag (278).
Root becomes England's highest run-scorer in Test cricket
Root ended his innings with 262 off 375 balls (17 fours), bettering his previous highest Test score of 254. Root has now completed 12,664 Test runs at an average of 51.47. With this, he has become England's highest run-scorer and overall the fifth-highest run-getter in Test cricket, surpassing Alastair Cook's record of 12,472 runs.
Root also scripts these records
Root became the first non-Asian batter to score a double hundred in each of India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. He now owns double-tons in five different nations. Only Kumar Sangakkara and Younis Khan are ahead in this regard with six doube-hundreds apiece. Root became the second visiting player after India's Virender Sehwag to register two 250-plus scores against Pakistan. The veteran also became the first England batter to score two 200s against Pakistan.
Root and Brook's partnership sets new record in Multan Test
Root and Brook scored 454 runs in partnership, breaking the highest-ever Test stand for any wicket by an English pair. They also recorded the highest-ever stand against Pakistan in Test cricket. The English duo also recorded the highest stand in WTC history and also the fourth-highest in Test cricket. Meanwhile, this is also only the third occasion of two batters scoring 250-plus in a Test innings.
England's third-highest total in Test history
The score of 823/7 is England's third-highest in their long Test history. Overall, this is the fourth-highest score in Test cricket. Notably, the score of 823/7 is also the highest recorded by England under head coach Brendon McCullum. As per Cricbuzz, the run rate of 5.48 by England is highest in 700-plus team total in a Test innings.
Crawley scored his 16th Test fifty
Zak Crawley recorded a well-made 78 off 85 balls. He now has 16 half-centuries in Test cricket. With this knock, Crawley has raced to 2,786 runs from 48 Tests at an average of 32.77. He has 20 fifty-plus scores (four tons). 633 of his runs have come against Pakistan at 70.33. The tally includes two tons and three fifties.
Duckett missed his fourth Test ton
Ben Duckett also played a whirlwind knock. He hammered a 75-ball 84 at number four as he didn't come out to open due to an injury. Duckett could have scored his fourth century in Test cricket. Duckett now has 1,912 Test runs at 40.68. His tally includes as many as 14 fifty-plus scores (3 hundreds). He boasts 441 runs against Pakistan at 73.50 (100: 1, 50s: 4).
5th century for Masood, including two versus England
Masood's 151 was laced with 13 fours and two sixes. He faced 177 balls. In 36 games (67 innings), Masood has raced to 2,045 runs at 30.07. He slammed his fifth century (50s: 10). As per ESPNcricinfo, in nine matches versus England (17 innings), he has raced to 524runs at 30.82. He slammed his 2nd ton versus England (50s: 1).
First Test ton in over a year for Shafique
Pakistan opener Abdullah Shafique finally ended his run-drought with 102 off 184 balls in the first innings. With this knock, he has raced to 1,474 Test runs at 40.94. He owns five tons and as many fifties, He has scored 315 Test runs against England at a decent average of 39.37. This was his second century against the Brits.
Shakeel slammed his fifth Test fifty vs England
Saud Shakeel departed for 82 off 177 balls in the first innings. Playing his 13th Test, he has raced 1,208 runs at 57.52. As per ESPNcricinfo, this was his seventh fifty as he also boasts three tons. 428 of his runs have come against England at 61.14. This was his fifth fifty against them. At home, he has completed 821 runs at a fine average of 63.15.
Do you know?
With this defeat, Pakistan became the first team to lose a Test match by an innings even after scoring 500-plus in the first innings. This is also their sixth successive defeat in the Test format. This is also their seventh loss at home in the last nine Tests.
Third Pakistan pair to accomplish this feat
Agha Salman and Aamer Jamal added 109 runs in partnership in the third innings. As per ESPNcricinfo, they became just the third Pakistan pair to register a century stand for the seventh wicket or lower in a third innings of a Test against England. They joined Asif Iqbal-Intikhab Alam, who added 190 runs for the ninth wicket in the 1967 Oval Test and Saeed Ajmal-Zulqarnain Haider, who stitched a 115-run stand for the eighth wicket in the 2010 Birmingham match.
2nd Test fifty for Jamal
Jamal scored an unbeaten 55 off 104 balls as he smoked five boundaries. The right-arm pacer also took a wicket in the game. This was his second Test fifty as he has raced to 205 runs across four Tests at 34.16. The tally also includes 19 scalps at 26 (5W: 2). This was his maiden Test against Pakistan and also a maiden one at home.
Twin 50-plus scores for Salman
Salman recorded twin 50-plus scores in the game as he made an unbeaten 119-ball 104 in his first outing and followed it up with an 84-ball 63. Playing his 15th Test, Salman has raced past 1,000 runs (now 1,096) at 47.65. The tally includes three tons and eight fifties. He recorded his first two 50-plus scores vs England (Tests). He now has 351 runs against them at 58.50, as per ESPNcricinfo. Salman boasts 651 runs at home at 50.07.
Seven wickets in the game for Leach
Jack Leach was the pick of the England bowlers in both innings as he claimed 3/160 (40 overs) in his first outing and followed it up with 4/30 (6.5 overs). As per ESPNcricinfo, the left-arm spinner has raced to133 wickets in 37 Tests at 34.02. The tally includes five fifers and a match 10-wicket haul. He owns 22 scalps against Pakistan at 39.04. Notably, he was playing his first Test since January 2024.
