Back-to-back defeats in the second and third Tests of their tour to Pakistan saw England register their second series defeat since Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes took control over the Test set-up.
It was a series of contrasts. On a flat Multan pitch in the first Test, England manufactured an extraordinary innings victory after conceding 553 in the first innings. Harry Brook (317) and Joe Root (262) combined to produce an all-time record England partnership before England’s seamers blew the Pakistan top order away late on the fourth evening.
That defeat, Shan Masood’s sixth in a row as Pakistan Test skipper, precipitated a dramatic change of tack for the hosts. They sensationally omitted Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah for the final two Tests and instead prepared two tracks conducive to spin. In these conditions, their new spin duo of Sajid Khan and Noman Ali were too good for a flailing England batting line-up.
Here’s how England’s players fared across the course of the series:
Zak Crawley: 4/10
139 runs @ 27.80; one fifty, HS: 78
Set the foundations for Root and Brook to make hay in the first Test but struggled against the left-arm spin of Noman Ali, falling to the veteran tweaker in his last four knocks of the series.
Ben Duckett: 8/10
262 runs @ 52.40; one hundred, two fifties, HS: 114
The only England batter to register a significant score in each Test, Duckett was England’s most capable run-scoring when conditions favoured Pakistan’s spinners. Duckett adapted his game well in Rawalpindi, reducing his reliance on the sweep shot on a pitch that showed early signs of inconsistent bounce.
Ollie Pope: 2/10
55 runs @ 11; no fifties, HS: 29
Deserves credit for masterminding the first Test win in Multan but individually, it was a nightmare series for the England vice-captain whose continued tendency to start frantically will naturally invite questions over his long term suitability to hold down his spot at No. 3. In 2024, he has passed 10 just 13 times in 25 innings, and passed 40 on just five occasions all year.
Joe Root: 7/10
352 runs @ 70.40; one hundred, HS: 262
One half of a record-breaking stand in Multan, Root’s returns fell away in the final two Tests of the series.
Harry Brook: 7/10
373 runs @ 74.60; one hundred, HS: 317
A similar series to his Yorkshire teammate. Historically good in the first Test, ineffective in the next two.
Ben Stokes: 2/10
37 runs @ 13.25; no fifties, HS: 37
No wickets
Stokes’ most difficult series as leader. He missed the first Test through injury and failed to produce a meaningful contribution in the final two games. His long-term record in Asia is underwhelming for a player of his class.
Jamie Smith: 5.5/10
150 runs @ 30; one fifty, HS: 91
Scored a brilliant 91 in the first innings at Rawalpindi to keep England in the contest but had an otherwise quiet series with the bat. His keeping in gruelling conditions was commended by his coach but he also let a handful opportunities slip by, most notably a routine chance to dismiss Salman Ali Agha early on in the second innings of the second Test – a potentially series-altering missed opportunity.
Chris Woakes: 6/10
17 unbeaten runs
Two wickets @ 55; BBI: 1-41
His raw numbers should be contextualised by the fact that his sole appearance came on the flattest of flat tracks in the first Test. His two wickets, both with a new ball, were crucial. In the first innings, he dismissed Babar Azam with a supremely skilful piece of bowling, and in the second he clean bowled Abdullah Shafique with the first ball of the innings to get England’s victory march up and running.
Brydon Carse: 9/10
9 wickets @ 24.33; BBI: 3-50
England’s most threatening bowler and potentially a serious find for Stokes and McCullum ahead of an era-defining year. Carse bowled with real hostility and skill on pitches that offered minimal assistance for the quicks.
Gus Atkinson: 8/10
6 wickets @ 27.83; BBI: 2/22
A more than creditable first overseas series for Atkinson who contributed with the bat as well as with the ball.
Matt Potts: 7/10
3 wickets @ 28.33; BBI: 2-66
Another England seamer who impressed in their first overseas Test. In oppressive heat, Potts was able to maintain his pace through the day and was the perfect foil to his Durham teammate Carse.
Rehan Ahmed: 8/10
4 wickets @ 16.50; BBI: 4-66
A real difference maker with the ball in Rawalpindi. He remains an immensely exciting prospect but without a Test in Asia until 2027, the next steps in his development as a red-ball bowler will not be straightforward to navigate.
Jack Leach 5/10
16 wickets @ 31.43; BBI: 4-66
A steady return to the England set-up for Leach. He had good moments – the second innings of the first Test and the third afternoon of the second Test – but equally, showed his limitations in Rawalpindi where he was comprehensively outbowled by his Pakistan counterpart, Noman Ali, whose control of flight and speed was on a different plane to what Leach was able to demonstrate. With more than two years until England’s next Test in Asia, it is not inconceivable that Leach has played his final Test for England.
Shoaib Bashir: 4/10
9 wickets @ 49.55; BBI: 4-66
After a slow start in Multan, Bashir endured a similar series to that of his Somerset teammate Leach. Like Leach, he had good moments – especially against Pakistan’s left-hand heavy top-order – but too often strayed in length in particular. He rarely looked threatening against Pakistan’s middle order who all excel against spin.
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