Root, Brook rip up record books as England defies belief in Pakistan

England is in position to win by an innings after conceding 556 runs in Pakistan’s first dig. Yes, you read that correctly.

It might be time for England cricket fans to stop panicking when their team concedes 500 runs in an innings.

For the third time under Brendon McCullum, the Poms are going to win a match after being absolutely battered during their opponent’s first innings.

English fans were well and truly blowing up after Pakistan racked up 556 in their first dig in the First Test in Multan, accusing selectors of making a mess of the transition of the bowling unit after the retirements of James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

But as they’ve done previously against New Zealand at Trent Bridge and Pakistan at Rawalpindi in 2022, England has pulled off the unthinkable.

Harry Brook (317) and Joe Root (262) combined for an English record 454-run partnership to rally the visitors to 7/823 declared - the highest score ever made against Pakistan.

The total was made in 150 overs at almost a run-a-ball and was followed by what had looked like a subpar bowling unit tearing through the hosts to leave them 6/152 at stumps.

Agha Salman (41 not out) and Aamer Jamal (27 not out) will resume on day five with Pakistan needing 115 runs to make England bat again.

If they don’t they will become the first team in Test history to lose by an innings after making 500 runs in their first knock.

Harry Brook (right) and Joe Root are applauded by their teammates as they leave the field after day four of the First Test Match between Pakistan and England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Pakistan’s collapse marked a quick turnaround to the match after a flat Multan stadium pitch saw 1379 runs scored for the loss of just 17 wickets.

England’s score was the fourth largest in Test cricket history as Brook and Root eclipsed the 411-run fourth-wicket partnership by Peter May and Colin Cowdrey against the West Indies at Birmingham in 1957.

England declared their innings 33 minutes before tea and Chris Woakes dismissed Abdullah Shafique with the first ball of the innings.

It was a familiar story of second innings failure for Pakistan as skipper Shan Masood (11), Babar Azam (five) and Saim Ayub (25) were dismissed before the total passed 50.

Masood was dropped twice on five and seven but miscued a shot off pace bowler Gus Atkinson, who also had Azam caught behind with a sharp delivery.

It became 5/59 when Mohammad Rizwan fell for 10 to fast bowler Brydon Carse. Saud Shakeel and Agha took Pakistan to 82 when spinner Jack Leach came into the act, getting Shakeel caught behind for 29.

Atkinson has figures of 2/28 and Carse 2/39.

England's Gus Atkinson (right) celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Pakistan's Babar Azam. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP)

Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan is clean bowled by England's Brydon Carse. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP)

Brook and Root enjoyed a run-feast with career-best knocks.

Brook completed his triple century with a boundary off part-timer Ayub, reaching the mark off 310 balls before he top-edged a sweep off the same bowler and was caught by Masood.

“It is amazing,” said the 25-year-old Brook.

“I am lost for words, to be honest, I’m just happy that the team is in a strong position to win the game … It’s been an incredible thing.”

He cracked 29 fours and three sixes in his 439-minute stay at the crease.

Root - who broke Alastair Cook’s England Test run record of 12,472 on Wednesday - fell short of a triple hundred when he was trapped leg-before by Agha after a marathon 10 hour-stay during which he hit 17 fours.

Ayub (2/101) and Naseem Shah (2/157) were the most successful Pakistan bowlers.

Joe Root celebrates after reaching 200. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP)

Harry Brook celebrates after scoring a triple century. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP)

England resumed on 3/492 in the morning and looked for quick runs, which Root and Brook provided despite Pakistan’s defensive leg-side bowling, adding 166 runs in 29 overs in the session.

Root’s previous best of 254 was also against Pakistan at Manchester in 2016. Brook’s previous best was 186, scored against New Zealand at Wellington last year.

Pakistan’s only chance came in the first hour when Root, on 186, failed to keep down a pull shot off Shah but Azam spilt the regulation chance at mid-wicket.

Root took full advantage and with a single off Salman completed his sixth Test double-century, which came in 517 minutes off 305 balls.

Pakistan were without frontline spinner Abrar Ahmed, who suffered a fever and did not take the field on Thursday. If he doesn’t bat on day five England will need just three wickets for a historic victory

- with AFP

Originally published as Root, Brook rip up record books as England defies belief in Pakistan