In a very bad place: Spineless Pakistan crash to historic defeat in first England Test

Is this the worst Pakistan team to have played Test cricket?

This is perhaps one of the many questions being asked by both their fans and critics after Pakistan became the first team in Test history to lose a Test by an innings after having posted 500 runs in their first attempt.

The result seemed inevitable after England took the upper hand on Thursday but the way Pakistan capitulated on Friday morning to suffer a defeat by an innings and 47 runs in the first Test against England showed that Pakistan cricket is in a really bad place.

On the fifth day in Multan, Pakistan’s resistance was thwarted, and the hosts were bowled out for 220, leaving England to celebrate a well-earned win. The defeat marked Pakistan’s sixth consecutive loss under captain Shan Masood, a worrying trend, which can be attributed to the team’s lack of mental and physical fitness in crucial moments.

Abrar Ahmed, unwell and unable to bat, left Pakistan a man down as they resumed the day on 152-6. Despite a gritty performance from Salman Agha, who scored a defiant 63, and an impressive 109-run partnership with Aamer Jamal, Pakistan's effort was undone by the persistence of England’s bowlers. The introduction of Jack Leach broke the partnership, and from there, the rest of the lineup crumbled under pressure.

Jamal, after surviving a nasty blow to the head from a Brydon Carse bouncer, reached his half-century, but even his efforts couldn’t reverse the inevitable.

England’s relentless bowling attack, combined with sharp fielding, including a stunning caught and bowled from Leach to dismiss Shaheen Afridi for 10, proved too much for the fatigued Pakistan side. The match ended with Naseem Shah being stumped on the bowling of Leach for six runs, sealing another disappointing defeat for the hosts.

A pattern of collapse in second innings

Pakistan's inability to handle pressure has become a recurring theme in their Test matches. In this series, as in previous ones, they showed promise in the first innings but faltered in the second. Despite scoring 556 runs, Pakistan couldn’t match England’s mental and physical resilience. Joe Root and Harry Brook capitalized on the flat pitch, leading England to declare at 823-7, with a massive lead of 267 runs. The 150 overs Pakistan spent fielding visibly drained them, leading to a batting collapse in their second innings.

Bangladesh pacer Hasan Mahmud celebrates Pakistan's Abdullah Shafique's wicket during the second Test in Rawalpindi in 2024.AFP

This collapse mirrored their earlier Test matches this year, including the first Test against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi in August. After a strong first innings total of 448/6 declared, Pakistan let Bangladesh post 565 runs after being 218-5, leading to a 117-run deficit in the first Test. Pakistan's batters, exhausted from the field, were bowled out for 146 in the second innings, resulting in a 10-wicket loss. Their fatigue and inability to handle pressure in key moments have consistently undermined their performance.

Mental and physical fitness: A continuing concern

After being whitewashed by Bangladesh, captain Shan Masood stressed the need for Pakistan to improve both physical and mental fitness to cope with the demands of five-day Test cricket and hold their advantage when ahead.

"To become a top Test side, our fitness needs to be on par with other top teams," Masood said.

This issue resurfaced in the Multan Test against England, where, despite a strong first-innings total, Pakistan couldn’t maintain their focus or energy. Test cricket requires not just skill but the ability to endure mentally and physically for the full five days—something Pakistan’s players have struggled with against elite opposition.

Babar Azam’s lack of batting form

A major concern in Pakistan’s recent Test failures has been Babar Azam’s poor form. Despite being one of the world’s top batsmen, Babar has now gone nine Tests without a half-century. In the Multan Test, he scored just 30 in the first innings before playing a tired shot in the second.

England's players celebrate after the dismissal of Pakistan's Babar Azam during the fourth day of the first Test cricket match between Pakistan and England at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan on October 10, 2024.AFP

Pakistan’s over-reliance on Babar has made them vulnerable, and when he underperforms, the rest of the lineup often fails to deliver. In this Test, Gus Atkinson dismissed both Babar and Shan Masood with ease, and the middle order quickly collapsed, leaving Pakistan at 59-5 on day four.

The road ahead

To recover from this slump, Pakistan must prioritize improving their fitness — both physical and mental. Test cricket requires stamina and resilience, and Pakistan’s inability to sustain these over five days has been their biggest weakness.

While players like Aamer Jamal and Salman Agha have shown glimpses of potential, consistent performances are needed across the squad. To compete at the highest level, Pakistan must match the fitness and conditioning of teams like England. Until they do, they will continue to struggle under pressure.