Series Editorial

Watch: Ollie Robinson outfoxes Babar Azam for the second time with a brilliant jag-backer

by Wisden Staff December 11, 2022 - 1:02pm 3 minute read

Watch: Ollie Robinson outfoxed Babar Azam with a brilliant delivery that jagged back in off the seam during the second Test, in Multan. He dismissed the Pakistan captain for the second time in the match.

Pakistan were 67-1 after lunch on day three needing another 288 for victory. Having just arrived at the crease after Muhammad Rizwan fell victim to a magic delivery from James Anderson, he had scored a solitary run when Robinson was bowling his fifth over of the innings. Babar had already played out four dots before Robinson produced the brilliant delivery.

Pitching it wide outside the off-stump, Robinson pitched the ball slightly back of a length but as it bounced off the surface it jagged back in sharply towards the stumps. Having decided to leave the delivery based on its width, Babar could only look behind him as the ball cannoned into his off stump, sending the zinger bails flying.

As Robinson ran off with his arms outstretched in celebration, Babar had to walk off the pitch having been bowled by Robinson twice in the Test match. “Babar has been completely bamboozled,” said Urooj Mumtaz on commentary.

As the players broke for drinks a few balls later, Robinson took the opportunity to demonstrate to his teammates exactly how far the ball had moved off the wicket. Joe Root pointed at the spot on the pitch where the ball had bounced, but Robinson was happy to exaggerate the movement he had generated, pointing to a spot a foot wider than where Root had suggested.

Babar’s wicket was the second of three that fell in quick succession after lunch, the third another ripping delivery from Mark Wood to dismiss Abdullah Shafique. Jack Leach broke a solid partnership between Saud Shakeel and Imam-ul-Haq just before stumps, leaving Pakistan 157 to win with six wickets remaining.