Cricket

Former Pakistan cricket captain Ramiz Raja has expressed his disappointment over the pitch prepared for the first Test match against England in Multan, which has resulted in a high-scoring affair with over 1,500 runs scored and only 23 wickets falling across four days.Raja, who is now a commentator, questioned why the pitch was not designed to assist Pakistan's bowling attack, especially considering the team's struggles in recent times. He pointed out that the bowlers have toiled hard but have not been rewarded with wickets."I'm sure bowlers will be questioning the quality of this track because they bend their back and nothing has happened," Raja said. "You start questioning why such a surface was provided and why are we playing on such a surface at home."England took full advantage of the flat pitch, posting a record-breaking first innings total of 823/7 declared. Harry Brook smashed a triple century, while Joe Root scored a double century. The duo helped England overtake Pakistan's first innings total of 556.Raja's criticism echoes the concerns raised by former Pakistan seamer Wasim Akram, who has previously denounced Raja's influence over the types of Test match pitches prepared in Pakistan.The second Test between Pakistan and England will also be played in Multan, before the final Test shifts to Rawalpindi. Given the high-scoring nature of the first Test, the groundstaff may undertake significant work during the gap days to ensure a more balanced contest in the remaining matches.

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has expressed his disappointment over the team's performance in the ongoing Multan Test against England. Pakistan's batters failed to capitalize on their strong start, allowing England to take control of the match.On the fourth day, Pakistan faced a daunting task in the second innings, trailing by 267 runs. However, their top six batters failed to deliver, with Babar Azam dismissed for just 5 runs. This continued Azam's poor form in Test cricket, leading Ali to suggest that the 29-year-old may need a break."Babar Azam needs rest," Ali said on his YouTube channel. "He should say that I need to rest. It has been 18 innings since he has performed. If some other player was playing, then he would be out of the squad after three games, like Fawad Alam."Ali also criticized Azam's technique, saying that he needs to reduce his stance. "The whole world is laughing," Ali said. "Is this how to play?"Ali also questioned the captaincy of Shan Masood, who opened the batting in the second innings. "I have been saying that Shan is an opener, he should open," Ali said. "But he played at number three. Now, what will happen? Who will you drop? He should play at his number. He doesn't even know captaincy. What has happened to this cricket team? It is shameful."England's dominance was highlighted by the record-breaking partnership between Harry Brook and Joe Root, who put on 454 runs for the fourth wicket. Pakistan's bowlers were unable to contain the English duo, and their confidence took a hit.England eventually declared on 823 for 7, setting Pakistan a target of 579 runs to win. Pakistan ended the day on 152/6, still trailing by 115 runs.

Legspinner Abrar Ahmed, who has been a key figure in Pakistan's recent Test resurgence, is currently undergoing treatment in a Multan hospital after falling ill during the ongoing first Test against England.Abrar, who bowled 31 overs on day three of the match, complained of a high fever and body aches on the morning of the fourth day and did not take the field with the rest of his team-mates. A PCB statement said he had undergone a number of tests, and a further update would be issued once results were received.Abrar's illness is a major blow to Pakistan, who are already without several key players due to injury. The 25-year-old has been one of Pakistan's most consistent performers in recent months, taking 24 wickets in his last four Tests.He endured a difficult time with the ball against England, with the tourists singling him out for attack. For much of the second half of the day, he was reduced to bowling outside leg stump from around the wicket to Joe Root and Harry Brook. It did drag his economy rate down, but he was the only frontline bowler to go wicketless, with his final figures reading 35-0-174-0.It is in stark contrast to his debut on this very ground against the same opposition in 2022, when he took 11 wickets in the game - and five before lunch on day one - to catapult him to the top of Pakistan's red ball spin pecking order.But injuries have dogged him consistently throughout his career. He made his professional debut for Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL as an 18-year old but then spent a number of years out of the game with a persistent back injury. He sustained a nerve injury during a tour game ahead of Pakistan's three Test tour of Australia, ultimately missing all of them, as well as the first Test against Bangladesh in August.Pakistan named Noman Ali and Zahid Mahmood in the squad for the ongoing first Test against England, but released them ahead of the start of the game.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has heaped praise on Joe Root after the latter scored his 35th Test century, surpassing the likes of Sunil Gavaskar and Brian Lara. However, despite Root's remarkable consistency, Vaughan believes he has a weakness against one particular bowler: India's Jasprit Bumrah.Vaughan acknowledged that Bumrah is the "only" bowler who poses a significant challenge to Root. "The only bowler he does not quite line up is Jasprit Bumrah, I reckon, but who does?" Vaughan wrote in his column for The Telegraph UK.Vaughan attributed Root's difficulty against Bumrah to the latter's exceptional pace and ability to release the ball quickly. "To be as good as he is you have to pick up the ball so quickly out of the hand, which gives him that extra bit of time," Vaughan explained.Despite this weakness, Vaughan emphasized that Root has no major flaws in his technique. "There is no obvious way to get him out, against pace or spin. At the moment, bowlers are waiting for him to make a mistake," Vaughan said.Root's 35th Test century came in the first Test against Pakistan in Multan, where he remained unbeaten on 176 at the end of Day 3. He is now eyeing his sixth double century on Day 4.Bumrah and Root are likely to face off again in June 2025 when India tours England for a five-match Test series. This series will be part of the next World Test Championship (WTC) cycle (2025-27).

England's Harry Brook Escapes Miraculous Dismissal in Multan TestIn a moment of sheer luck, England's Harry Brook narrowly avoided a game-changing dismissal during the first Test against Pakistan in Multan on Wednesday. During the 75th over, Pakistan's Aamer Jamal bowled a delivery that nipped back in as Brook attempted a late stab. The ball deflected off Brook's body and trickled back towards the stumps, but despite hitting them, the bails remained stubbornly in place.This stroke of fortune for Brook came in stark contrast to the stellar performance of his teammate Joe Root, who stole the show with a majestic hundred. Root broke Alastair Cook's record to become England's highest run-scorer in Test cricket, surpassing Cook's total of 12,472 runs. Root's masterclass innings of 119 not out helped steer England to 351/3 at tea on day three.Unfazed by his near miss, Brook went on to register a gritty half-century, ending the session unbeaten on 64. Together with Root, the pair put on a 102-run stand, frustrating the Pakistani camp on a flat Multan surface.Brook's escape and Root's record-breaking century have put England in a commanding position in the first Test. With two days remaining, England will be looking to build on their advantage and secure a crucial victory in the three-match series.

Joe Root Surpasses Sunil Gavaskar's Test Century RecordFormer England captain Joe Root has etched his name into the annals of cricket history by surpassing Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar's record of 34 Test centuries. Root achieved this remarkable feat on the third day of the first Test match against Pakistan in Multan on Wednesday.Root's 35th Test century came in the second session of the day with a single off Abrar Ahmed. The milestone marked a significant moment in the career of the 31-year-old batsman, who has established himself as one of the most prolific run-scorers in modern cricket.Known for his exceptional technique against both spin and pace, Root has been a consistent performer in all conditions. His adaptability and ability to score runs at a high rate have earned him a place among the "Fab Four" (alongside Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, and Steve Smith).Root's achievement is particularly noteworthy considering the stature of Sunil Gavaskar, who was regarded as one of the greatest openers in cricket history. Gavaskar's record of 34 Test centuries stood for nearly two decades until Sachin Tendulkar surpassed it.By scoring his 35th Test hundred, Root also surpassed Mahela Jayawardene, Brian Lara, and Younis Khan, all of whom had scored 34 Test centuries. This achievement further cements Root's status as one of the most prolific batsmen of his generation.Root's record-breaking century is a testament to his exceptional talent and unwavering determination. It is a fitting tribute to the legacy of Sunil Gavaskar and a reminder of the enduring power of cricket's greatest batsmen.

England's former white-ball captain Eoin Morgan has urged the team to recall Joe Root and Ben Stokes for next year's Champions Trophy in Pakistan. Morgan believes that the experienced duo's presence is crucial for England's success in the tournament.Root and Stokes last played ODIs at the 2023 World Cup, where England suffered a disappointing group-stage exit. While they will not feature in the upcoming series against West Indies, England have indicated that they remain in contention for selection.Morgan emphasized the importance of Root and Stokes' experience and leadership qualities. He pointed out that England's recent series defeat against Australia exposed the team's lack of depth in the absence of key players."When you put them up against a side that didn't have Archer, Wood, Stokes, Root, and Buttler, that's half your England team," Morgan said. "The younger players have found a template, but they need to continue with that and look ahead to the Champions Trophy."Morgan believes that the West Indies series will provide an opportunity for younger players to prove themselves, but he expects McCullum to recall the senior players when he takes over as white-ball coach in January."The younger players have an opportunity in front of them, but that opportunity can be quickly taken away when those big names come back," Morgan said. "Stokes and Root are in the best team, and they need to be there for the Champions Trophy."England have only six more ODIs before the Champions Trophy, and Morgan believes that the team must use this time wisely to find the best possible combination.

New Zealand cricket legend Suzie Bates has joined the Hobart Hurricanes for the latter stages of the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL). The 37-year-old all-rounder, who has played over 100 WBBL matches for three different teams, was not selected in this year's draft.Bates' signing comes as a replacement for England's Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who is expected to join her national team for a tour of South Africa. Wyatt-Hodge's departure would have left a significant void in the Hurricanes' lineup, but Bates' experience and versatility will help fill that gap.With 167 T20I appearances to her name, Bates is one of the most experienced players in the world. She is also the all-time leading run-scorer in women's T20Is, with over 3,000 runs to her credit.Hurricanes general manager Salliann Beams expressed her delight at Bates' signing, saying, "Bringing Suzie into our WBBL squad just made sense. She provides more than 130 games of T20I cricket and will give us an experienced operator when we lose someone of Danni's ability in our line-up."Bates will join a Hurricanes squad that already boasts international stars Chloe Tryon and Lizelle Lee. The team will be hoping to make a deep run in the WBBL playoffs, and Bates' addition will undoubtedly boost their chances.

England's batting maestro Joe Root has taken a significant step towards equaling the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's remarkable record of amassing 1000-plus Test runs in the most calendar years.In the ongoing Test match against Pakistan, Root played a crucial role in stabilizing England's innings after the early dismissal of stand-in skipper Ollie Pope. With Pakistan posting a formidable 556 runs on the back of centuries from Salman Ali Agha, Abdullah Shafique, and Shan Masood, England faced an uphill task.Root approached his innings with caution, ensuring that England did not lose further wickets. He rotated the strike effectively, found the boundary twice, and remained unbeaten on 32 runs from 54 deliveries.This performance marked Root's fifth calendar year in which he has crossed the 1000-run mark in Test cricket. He now stands level with cricket icons Brian Lara, Matthew Hayden, Jacques Kallis, Ricky Ponting, Kumar Sangakkara, and Alastair Cook for achieving this feat.To match Tendulkar's record, Root needs to accumulate 1000 Test runs in one more calendar year. Tendulkar currently holds the record with six calendar years in which he achieved this milestone.Zak Crawley played an aggressive role for England, scoring a brisk 64 runs from 64 deliveries. His innings, which included 11 fours, put pressure on the Pakistan bowlers.The duo of Root and Crawley forged an unbeaten 92-run partnership, guiding England to a score of 96/1 at the end of the day's play. They trail Pakistan by 460 runs, with plenty of work still to do in the remaining days of the Test match.