England v Pakistan, 1st Test, Lord's, day 4 - What an engrossing Test match it was!!!

What an engrossing Test match it was!!! What a celebration by the Pakistan cricket team!!! That was just an icing on the cake.

Pakistan had the bowlers to defend 283 on this track, but they were tested by some stubborn resistance of the English batsmen. The defiant resistance of Jonny Bairstow and Chris Woakes made the contest a stifling and exciting one. Jonny Bairstow is not about flashing strokes only, but, he can change his style according to the demand of the situation. On the other hand, Chris Woakes showed his temperament as a Test match batsman and proved his worth as one of England’s finest prospects in recent times.

I must admit, Rahat Ali stole the show from Mohammad Amir. Rahat’s variation in line and length was impressive and he was the only pacer to pitch the ball on a back of a length which Amir and at times, Wahab Riaz failed to emulate. Rahat was tough to handle and some of those deliveries, leaving the bat at a sharp pace would have made Wasim Akram proud.

Yasir Shah has taken a 10-wicket haul and what a legspinner he has turned out to be for Pakistan! Pakistan’s world was doomed when Saeed Ajmal’s bowling was banned from international cricket. In comes an unknown youngster from nowhere to turn the world upside down – a classic Pakistani tradition which is still active despite all the major setbacks over the years.

In the fourth innings, the four-man Pakistan bowling attack hunted in packs. Either Wahab or Amir used to set the batsmen up or Yasir would tease or Rahat would test with his nagging line-and-incisive length to create a platform for each other where all could capitalize. Simply brilliant!!!  

Thank You

Faisal Caesar