"Test cricket cannot afford for this pitch to continue playing in the same way for all five days" - Nasser Hussain on 1st PAK vs ENG Test
Former England skipper Nasser Hussain was critical of the lifeless pitch used in Multan for the first Test between the Englishmen and Pakistan. The Men in Green batted for close to 150 overs without hiccups to post 556 runs in their first innings. England have also coasted through during their turn with the bat, ending Day 2 at 96-1 after playing out 20 overs.
It was a familiar story for England when they toured Pakistan the last time in 2022. On that occasion, they managed to force results through with their aggressive brand of cricket. This time also the onus is on them to make things interesting, because as far as the pitch is concerned, it is tailormade for a draw.
The England bowlers got no help from the pitch in terms of pace, bounce, or seam movement. There was a marginal turn on offer, while Nasser Hussain pointed out another glaring concern of the absence of reverse swing with neither the pitch nor the outfield being abrasive as such.
"Test cricket cannot afford for this pitch to continue playing in the same way for all five days. It is incredibly flat and, for the future of the longer format, pitches need to do something. At the moment, it has done nothing for two days. No spin, no swing, no reverse swing. It is too batter-friendly and Test cricket needs an even contest between bat and ball," Nasser Hussain wrote in his column in the Daily Mail.
Hussain also noted the effect that such pitches could have on the crowd. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is already struggling hard to attract fans to the stadium, with the provision of free entry and reduced ticket prices. Their recent results, including a whitewash against Bangladesh at home, have resulted in a sparse crowd marking their presence for the first couple of days.
"You cannot afford 600 plays 500 plays 400, and then a draw. The crowds here in Multan are already sparse and, if it is like this for five days, soon nobody will come in," Hussain added.
Zak Crawley and Joe Root were unbeaten for England at the end of Day 2, with the former marking his return with a quickfire fifty.
"England’s job is to get as close as possible to Pakistan’s total" - Nasser Hussain
England had to improvise their batting plan after Ben Duckett was injured while claiming a catch to close out the Pakistan innings. As a result, stand-in skipper Ollie Pope opened the innings but was dismissed for a two-ball duck.
Root and Crawley thrived on the flat surface, and while the pitch has not hosted any demons so far, things could be different as the game progresses. Day 3, rightly named the moving day, will be crucial in determining where the contest is headed.
"There are still three sunny days ahead, which will hopefully have an impact on the surface. The pitch has got cracks in it and, while it has done nothing from those so far, it might deteriorate as the sun beats down," Hussain wrote in his column.
"You’ve got to put yourself in a position to pounce if those cracks widen and the surface starts to spin or produce some uneven bounce. England’s job is to get as close as possible to Pakistan’s total and make that third innings difficult for the opposition," he concluded.
Rawalpindi sported a similar pitch when England toured Pakistan in 2022. The contest ended up being a run fest after Ben Stokes and company amassed over 500 runs on the opening day.
The venue was handed a demerit point for dishing out a drab pitch, but it was later rescinded following a successful appeal.