"Should be banned for life. Give it demerit points" - Fans take a dig at Rawalpindi wicket after England openers get off to a rollicking start

England got off to a breathtaking start in the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi that got underway on Thursday, December 1. Openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett scored centuries as the tourists took the driver's seat in the first session of the opening day.

Ben Stokes and Co. won the toss and decided to bat first at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Crawley and Duckett took the attack to the opposition from ball one as the former raced to his fifty in just 38 balls, while England touched the 100-run mark in 13.5 overs.

Duckett, on the other hand, made a run-a-ball fifty himself on his comeback. Pakistan bowlers were not up to the mark and leaked runs easily. Both reached their individual centuries before the hosts could make some inroads with the ball.

Meanwhile, fans were unhappy with the Rawalpindi wicket and slammed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for preparing a dead pitch. Many also urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to ban the ground for life and award Pakistan demerit points.

Here are some of the reactions:

Good to see the ODI series get started in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. #PakvEng

The last 100 overs of Test cricket at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium:

0/410

#PAKvENG

485 runs scored, 676 balls delivered between the last wicket (Nathan Lyon) and Ben Duckett at Rawalpindi

Test cricket in Rawalpindi is beautiful. https://t.co/hKRjB762ja

Not a single maiden over on the Day 1 of a test match. When was the last time that happened? 🫣
#ENGvsPAK #Rawalpindi #TestCricket

Caption?

#TestCricket #PakistanCricket #PAKvsEng #EngvsPak #Rawalpindi https://t.co/mTJAad3IV8

Free batting practice at Rawalpindi. Send your batsman who are struggling and we will make their careers.

Limited time offer only.

Even Brian Lara can make a comeback with another 400 on this Rawalpindi's pitch.🙄
#PAKvENG

ODI or Test match being played in Rawalpindi?

#PAKvENG

Rawalpindi me test chal raha ya odi ya T20?
Score dekh k samjh nhi aa raha🤔
#justasking

Nasser Hussain comments on Rawalpindi pitch ahead of First Test👀

#PAKvENG https://t.co/RQHsUus0cU

@MichaelVaughan Rawalpindi Cricket stadium should be banned for life .. Give it Demerit points ... 😭😭😭
Road Pitches 😡

An absolute road in Rawalpindi!! #cricket #EngvPak

At the time of writing, England were placed at 273/2, with Ollie Pope (22*) and Joe Root (16*) in the middle. The visitors will hope to pile up a big total to put the hosts under tremendous pressure.

Haris Rauf and Zahid Mahmood picked up one wicket apiece for Pakistan.

"Looks like an absolute road" - Nasser Hussain on Rawalpindi wicket

Former England skipper Nasser Hussain shared his thoughts on the pitch being used for the ongoing Test. The cricketer-turned-commentator believes the turf has no life in it, saying:

"It looks like an absolute road."

Hussain's former teammate Michael Atherton also echoed the same sentiments, calling the wicket "very flat".

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