Multan Test: England at 96/1 in reply to Pakistan’s 556 after day two

Zak Crawley and Joe Root anchored England’s innings after the early loss of captain Ollie Pope, setting up a solid response to Pakistan’s imposing total of 556 by the end of day two of the first Test at Multan Cricket Stadium. With the pair steady at 96/1, England still faces a daunting deficit of 460 runs, but Crawley and Root’s controlled partnership has provided the platform for a potential fightback.

Naseem Shah struck early with an aggressive first over, dismissing Pope and setting the tone for Pakistan’s determined bowling effort. However, Crawley’s counter-attack, scoring 64 off 64 balls, and Root’s methodical 32 off 54 balls, have kept England’s hopes alive heading into day three. Root’s resilience on turning tracks, historically challenging for him, will be key in stabilizing England’s middle order.

Pakistan’s first innings was dominated by a well-balanced performance across the batting lineup. Saud Shakeel (82) provided the backbone of the middle-order, while Salman Ali Agha’s powerful century (104 off 119) pushed Pakistan to a commanding total. Agha’s aggressive lower-order batting, coupled with Shaheen Afridi’s valuable contribution of 26, ensured Pakistan maximized their advantage.

Naseem Shah’s earlier contributions with the bat—33 runs and three sixes—delayed England’s breakthrough, while his aggressive fast bowling continues to pose a threat. His partnership with Saud Shakeel defied England early on day two, frustrating the visitors despite their persistent efforts.

England’s bowling was a mixed bag, with debutant Brydon Carse picking up his maiden Test wicket and Jack Leach being the standout with three dismissals. Leach’s role will be increasingly critical as the pitch begins to wear, favoring spin later in the match.

Notably, England is without regular captain Ben Stokes, whose absence due to a hamstring injury places additional pressure on Ollie Pope’s leadership. Additionally, veteran seamer James Anderson’s decision to skip this tour, participating in Scotland’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship instead, leaves a hole in England’s bowling attack, with Atkinson and Carse being tasked with shouldering greater responsibility.

With Pakistan capitalizing on familiar conditions and England building cautiously, the next few sessions will be decisive. England will need to bat deep into day three if they hope to mount any meaningful resistance against Pakistan’s well-rounded attack.