ICT tour manager Gary is with our intrepid travellers in Pakistan. This week, they witnessed cricket history…
I will never witness another match quite like that, it was breathtaking.
We arrived at Pakistan in the very early hours, delayed flight, lost luggage probably due the the locals having huge boxes of purchased goods from Dubai. I guess something had to give, and it was Bruce’s case that was the victim. Meanwhile, yours truly forgot his iPad in a security tray in Dubai, after a bit of banter with the guy operating the X-ray machine.
I paid for a moment’s loss of concentration, but it has been handed in and hopefully I will be reunited with it soon.
An early start
After arriving at the hotel around 4am we elected to have a late breakfast.
In the early afternoon we tried to use an ATM, but all but one was rejected, so our guide arranged for us to have an armed escort carrying heavy rifles in search of a cash machine, in the style of Dick Turpin.
The following morning it was an early breakfast then another armed escort to the cricket ground, where England promptly lost the toss and bowled.
The wicket was reminiscent to that of The Oval with its green tinge; two years ago it was what you normally expect to find in Pakistan, a wicket that has something in for the batters and bowlers and especially spin later in the match.
ICT tourists get the media treatment in Multan
Day 1 – Pakistan take charge
England had Pakistan 8/1 and the next wicket fell on 261, a great partnership between Abdullah Shafique and Shan Masood putting Pakistan in a strong position. England did not look like threatening.
At lunch we went for a stroll around the ground, and had the usual selfies and handshakes, but not like two years ago. There are sights walking around the ground like you wouldn’t see at Lord’s: bomb disposal units and several military watch towers with police and army massed around their perimeter. There were even dormitories where they slept overnight, leaving nothing to chance.
You do feel is it a bit over the top, everybody here is so friendly and welcoming.
Day 2 – England rebuild
After a very flat first day, Pakistan continued to build a total on day two, but lost wickets regularly, their innings eventually closing on 556. England at stumps were 96/1, Ollie Pope out for 0 after a superb catch by Jamal.
We arrived at the ground two light, both feeling under the weather.
Joe Root and Harry Brook at Multan
Day 3 – Runfest
Day three proved to be highly entertaining from an English perspective, with the tourists scoring at over five runs an over.
The day was capped by Joe Root eclipsing Alastair Cook as England’s highest ever runscorer.
He didn’t appear to celebrate it, knowing there was still work to be done.
Day 4 – The Root and Brook show
As we arrived on the penultimate day, we felt there were just two possible outcomes: the draw or an England win. We took our seats and ventured on our walk around the ground, and for the second time during the Test match we were asked by a TV crew for an interview.
England started the day 63 behind on a wicket that was very flat but the green tinge was fading. By lunch, both Root and Harry Brook had made double centuries, and England were 102 runs. At this point, all the staff sprang into action dishing out lunch in an luxurious brown paper bag.
After lunch, England went about their task of scoring quickly to set a target for Pakistan, declaring before tea.
Harry Brook celebrates his double hundred at Multan
Day 5 – The result
Unfortunately I was unable to see the last rites as I was unwell over night, that’s three of us who had missed a day!
823 was England’s third highest score, the fourth highest score of all time. Brook’s 317 is the highest England score since 1990, and the Yorkshireman now averages 130 in Pakistan. The 454 partnership between Brook and Root is England’s highest, Root also became England’s leading run scorer with 12,664.
There were so many more superlatives.
It just goes to show you that cricket can change by the minute. I was looking at a drab draw after the first day, and as it turned out, it was the best Test match I have ever seen.
Who said test cricket is dead.
COME ON TOUR WITH GARY TO NEW ZEALAND
