PAK VS ENG - 3rd Test, England tour of Pakistan, 2022

The real, or rather the litmus test for him starts June next year when Australia arrive for Ashes in England. Starting to lick your lips already? Blame Bazball. That’s all for now then. A two-match Test series followed by a three-match ODI series against New Zealand await Pakistan. The first Test starts at the very same venue next Monday while England head home for a well-deserved Christmas break. On that note, here’s wishing all you wonderful people a Merry Christmas in advance. Remember to check this space for all the latest in cricket. Until next time, it’s me, Raju Peethala, signing off alongside ‘a special Messi devotee’ (he’d rather prefer it that way) and our scoring hawk Praveen. Special mention to Mukesh as well for the final day stint. Cheerio!!

From gloom of Grenada to finishing the year with a whitewash against Pakistan, England’s Test cricket has a come a long way. The span may be short and their style of cricket might be mystifying but you just cannot ignore this marvel called Bazball. Yes they might lose the odd game, like they did at Lord’s against South Africa, but it’s the horses-for-courses selection strategy and backing players to the hilt that highlight the B-Mac’s coaching manual. Alex Lees, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Rehan Ahmed and the persistence with Zak Crawley to mention a few. The deeper you look into the thought behind the selection/re-introduction of those aforementioned names, the admiration for McCullum, the coach, just grows multifold.

Fast forward 15 months, Harry Cherrington Brook is the leading run-scorer in a three-match Test series. He went past David Gower (449 runs in 1983) to become the top run-getter in a Test series in Pakistan. So, what’s all the fuss about? When England sealed that nail-biting thriller at Rawalpindi, the surface was termed benign for the batters but, when you’re playing your first away Test on a sub-continent surface you just cannot turn up and score 240 runs at a strike-rate in excess of 130. Not only did Brook assert his authority in the Pindi Test, he went one better in the next game and notched up a crucial second innings hundred in Multan. He scored at only about half the strike-rate he had in the first game, willing to put his head down and stitch a vital near 100-run stand with the skipper while at it. And on the driest track of the series, Brook once again put his hand up and claimed his third successive hundred in as many games. Brook was also the player of the series in the 7-match T20 series in September and no wonder he loves playing and piling runs against Pakistan. All in all, it’s been a memorable 4 months for the 23 year-old, with a World Cup win, perhaps, topping the list of his amazing ride. And when he heads back home, Bairstow’s surely getting an invite for Brook’s Christmas party? You bet!!

At a strike-rate of 76 and an average of 66 in Test cricket, Jonny Bairstow was having the time of his life early September this year. Even the ever-impressive Joe Root needed five extra innings to eclipse his Yorkshire mate as the leading run-scorer of Test cricket in 2022. Just weeks before his 33rd birthday, Bairstow suffered a lower-limb injury in a freak accident while walking on the teeing ground at his local golf club. Skipper Ben Stokes, at that time, compared Bairstow’s injury to McGrath’s 2005 Ashes moment and expressed excitement at the prospect of having Harry Brook as a replacement. It, sure, wasn’t the first time Stokes got effervescent about Brook. In July 2021, Stokes witnessed the ‘Brook carnage’ from close quarters in a Hundred game at the Headingley and spoke very highly of the Keighley boy. “He just takes the game on from ball one. He is not scared of any situation, he is not frightened of any bowler and he just sticks to what works for him. That is exactly what we try and create in the England team so I don't think it will be too long before we see him wearing the Three Lions,” he said.

Moment of the series: The Ben-Stokes run-out. Okay, before you raise brows and give stick, here’s why: Brook was the guilty partner when Stokes got run-out in the first innings of the last Test, but it was the immediate reaction and gesture from Stokes that won many hearts. Stokes was clearly distressed, as his partner who took off (for the third run) and then trudged back after having spotted the danger at the bowling end but, he didn’t let any of that impact the young Harry Brook. Stokes took a few steps towards the dressing room and then turned back to give a thumbs up to Brook indicating that it’s alright and asked him to carry on his good work. He was also the first person inside the dressing room to receive Brook after his hundred and was also first in line to stand and applaud the milestone thunderously. It’s moments like these that give us an extra reason to watch the sport.

Ben Stokes is now presented with the trophy. He carries it towards the 'winners' hoarding where his mates look all ready for the photographs. Rehan Ahmed has been asked to hold the trophy and smiles galore in the England camp.

Harry Brook | Player of the Match and Player of the Series: Probably been my best tour so far, no one has ever done it before (3-0 whitewash) so it's a phenomenal tour. Was annoyed when I got out to Abrar in the second Test and wanted to approach him in a different way. We were trying to win it last night and just moved the order a bit and sent the boys out there for some fun.

Ben Stokes: Perfect (sums up the Test series). We got a process in which we want to play, the challenge is to play on different kinds of pitches and we stuck to our gameplan and adapted really well with bat and ball. Everyone delivered. Lot spoken about the way we bat, but our bowling stood up as well. It comes down to belief. The belief we have on the team in what we were trying to do and it resonates around everybody, it's unbelievable and to be able to lead the group full of confidence, it's amazing. Every person stood up at some point and put on some kind of match winning performance. Harry Brook has been a treat to watch, the calmness and belief he has at such a young age is incredible. The confidence and belief he's (Rehan Ahmed) got to do what he does, he is not a finished article, but it is seriously exciting for England. I won't forget that cap presentation. That experience itself was incredible. His Dad was so emotional and proud and I'm sure his Mum would be incredibly proud back home as well. We knew what cricket means to Pakistan and what it meant to Pakistan for us to be here, we have got the best fans in the world and also for the people in Pakistan to come out and support and walk off with the reception we have on every ground, a tremendous experience.

Babar Azam: Disappointing as a team. We were not good enough to fight back but, credit to England they played really well. First innings we lost back to back wickets, we were good in patches but not good for longer periods and that cost us. Our bowlers fought back very well, but unfortunately that wasn't good enough. Lot of positives in the series and we will carry that to the next series and we will also discuss where we fell short and correct that.

There's a special medal for Jack Leach (chosen by both the coaches) for offering the most memorable moment of the series (last wicket of the first Test).

You could argue that Pakistan panicked during the dying moments of the first Test, but there’s no excuse for losing the next two. They simply didn’t have any answers against this renewed approach from England. It’s not like they weren’t aware of what’s coming at them. Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel can be mighty proud of themselves for their improved consistency, but the rest of the line-up will be scrutinised and with Azhar Ali’s exit, an opportunity beckons for a certain Test hopeful.

In both the innings, the wicket of Babar Azam triggered a collapse and it kinda sums up why Pakistan weren't able to force the issue. Opting to bat, they fell at least 75-100 short of their first innings total and despite getting off to a superb start in their second essay, they lost three in quick succession early on day three and Babar, after stitching a vital partnership with Saud Shakeel, got out trying to pull a half-tracker from Rehan Ahmed. England, too, looked clueless with the ball at times but, when not picking wickets they were able to strangle the hosts with some tight overs. Also, it's the variety in their attack that has allowed them to have a decent grip on the proceedings. Mark Wood's barrage of bumpers, Robinson's unrelenting accuracy with his lines, Stokes' search for reverse swing and the spin-duo of course. They all worked in unison and reaped rewards. As for Pakistan, it looked like they were just playing with two bowlers in Abrar and Nauman and ran out of gas during crucial moments of the game. It is the first time Pakistan lost a Test series 3-0 at home. Also, only the third loss for them at Karachi which happens to be their happy hunting ground as it holds the highest win-loss ratio (23 wins) for any team at a venue.

10:39 Local Time, 05:39 GMT, 11:09 IST: England complete a historic whitewash of Pakistan away. The first time this has ever happened to Pakistan at home. Truly sensational. Warm scenes as Azhar Ali stump in hand walks off into the sunset. He is congratulated by everyone as England show their admiration. A fine cricketer Azhar. Coming back to today's action, it was a question of how many minutes England needed to finish it off. 39 to be exact and fittingly Duckett - the man back in whites after a long time, who hits the winning runs.

Mohammad Wasim Jr to Duckett, FOUR, Duckett finishes it off. England have Bazballed Pakistan 3-0! An emphatic win capped off by an emphatic drive. Full outside off, Duckett slashes the square drive through point and it races away

Abrar Ahmed to Stokes, 2 runs, tossed up on the stumps, Stokes comes down the track and lofts, lot of height on that but not the distance, clears mid-on who saves the boundary

Abrar Ahmed to Duckett, 1 run, tossed up on the stumps, Duckett sweeps to deep square leg

Abrar Ahmed to Duckett, no run, the orthodox leggie on the stumps, turned to short mid-wicket

Abrar Ahmed to Duckett, no run, another tossed up googly on middle, Duckett gets forward to defend to cover

Abrar Ahmed to Stokes, 1 run, very full on the stumps, Stokes sweeps to deep mid-wicket

Abrar Ahmed to Duckett, 1 run, slower googly on off, Duckett goes on the back foot and defends in front of cover for one