Pakistan’s Babar Azam underlined his standing as one of many world’s main batsmen with a advantageous unbeaten fifty towards England on an interrupted opening day of the primary Take a look at at Outdated Trafford on Wednesday. When unhealthy gentle compelled an early shut, Pakistan have been 139-2, with Babar 69 not out and Shan Masood unbeaten on 46. However left-handed opener Masood was twice missed on 45 by England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler both facet of a prolonged rain break, with off-spinner Dom Bess the unfortunate bowler on each events.
The prolific Babar has now reached a half-century in 5 successive Take a look at innings, along with his earlier 5 matches yielding 4 lots of.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain, commentating for Sky Sports activities, stated Babar may very well be thought-about alongside gamers equivalent to India captain Virat Kohli.
“If this lad was Virat Kohli, everybody could be speaking about it however as a result of it’s Babar Azam, nobody is speaking about it,” stated Hussain.
“He is younger, he is elegant, he is obtained all of the swagger,” he added.
“They hold happening concerning the ‘Fab 4 (Kohli, Australia’s Steve Smith, New Zealand’s Kane Williamson and England captain Joe Root) – it is the ‘Fab 5’ and Babar Azam is in that.”
When play resumed within the early night after an extended rain delay, Root was quickly bowling his occasional off-breaks in tandem with Bess to try to hold the match going beneath gray skies after Jofra Archer had pitched quick to Babar.
However even with two spinners bowling and the floodlights on, the umpires nonetheless known as a halt at 6:12 pm (1712 GMT).
Pakistan have been 43-2 when Babar got here in to bat after captain Azhar Ali, who had gained the toss, fell lbw for a duck to Chris Woakes.
Trendy Babar
Babar began cautiously however after the lunch interval, he unfurled an array of trendy attacking pictures.
He struck specific paceman Archer down the bottom for 4 earlier than driving Bess for one more boundary to carry up Pakistan’s hundred.
Bess, nonetheless, ought to have eliminated Masood for 45 when he took the left-hander’s exterior edge however Buttler dropped the possibility.
Then, following the rain delay, Buttler missed an opportunity to stump Masood after the batsman charged down the pitch.
The errors will revive dialogue concerning the wicketkeeper’s place within the facet with Ben Foakes, arguably a superior gloveman, ready within the wings.
Babar drew stage on 45 not out with Masood, who was on 22 when the right-hander got here into bat, happening to finish a formidable 70-ball fifty, together with 9 boundaries.
The situations favoured England’s four-man tempo assault, who had been concerned in final month’s 2-1 sequence win over the West Indies, accomplished at Outdated Trafford.
In distinction, Pakistan’s preparations for the three-match sequence amounted to only two intra-squad warm-up video games.
Masood and fellow opener Abid Ali did properly to outlive the primary hour earlier than Archer struck.
Having examined Abid with a number of short-pitched deliveries, the paceman bowled him with a full-length ball for 16 earlier than Azhar was lbw to a Woakes nip-backer for a six-ball duck.
Promoted
England haven’t gained a Take a look at sequence towards Pakistan since 2010 they usually got here into this match having misplaced the sequence opener in every of their previous 5 campaigns towards all opponents.
As was the case in the course of the West Indies sequence, the three-match marketing campaign is going down behind closed doorways on well being grounds, with Pakistan denied the colourful and vocal assist they normally take pleasure in in England.
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