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 newcomer Razaullah dismissing Joe Root after tea on the opening day with just his fourth delivery in Test cricket. Propelling the Dukes from a slingy, chest-on action that has a touch of Waqar Younis in his pomp, and hitting 92mph on the speed gun, the 21-year-old’s eventual two for 42 offered a glimmer of cheer for Pakistan’s otherwise downtrodden supporters.
Sadly their team’s broader slide continued and by stumps – even with just 73 overs bowled despite a mere five-minute stoppage for rain – England’s upperhand 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 had earlier passed 100 wickets in Test cricket, with the first of his three for 15 seeing him becoming 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 said he was not looking forward to this match because of Edgbaston’s reputation for a flat one, walked off happy with three.
Long term, however, it may be that England’s reply with the bat was 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 spot on the plane to South Africa this winter.
While Ben Duckett fell trying to land some early blows, and Jordan Cox was the latest to succumb 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 looked as good as anyone and unfurled nine silky-smooth fours en route. A stand of 105 with Harry Brook, who scrapped to 52 not out, was the kind of contribution that Root had called for in a summer that has been dominated by wobble-seam bowlers.
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