Pakistan v England 2022/23

Watch: Abrar Ahmed unveils the leg-spinner, beats Joe Root’s push with big turn for third scalp of dream first morning

by Wisden Staff December 9, 2022 - 8:04am 2 minute read

Watch: Debutant Abrar Ahmed picked up his third wicket on day one of the second England Test, dismissing Joe Root with a turner to begin his career on a high.

Abrar, who had picked up the first two wickets of England’s first innings as well, got the big wicket of Root on the first ball of the 25th over of the innings. Known for his googlies, the spinner sent down a legbreak delivery, which drifted in before turning square and hitting the batter on the back pad. The Pakistan fielders went up in appeal, which on-field umpire Aleem Dar rejected. However, DRS overturned the decision as England lost their third wicket.

Dar had already been in the news in the first session on Friday, after asking TV umpire Joel Wilson to re-check the lbw review of Ben Duckett, who was given leg before by him. Wilson overturned Dar’s decision, saying the ball was next to the glove, but, unconvinced, the Pakistan umpire asked for another look. Wilson stuck to his decision, and Dar had to rule Duckett not out.

In the same over, Dar was forced to overturn another decision, when he gave Duckett not out only to have Wilson overturn his decision again. Root’s dismissal, thus, not only capped off a memorable morning for Abrar but also a forgettable day for Dar, considered one of the best umpires in the world.