Masood and Shafique torment England in the first Test

First Test, Multan (day one of five)

Pakistan 328-4 Masood 151, Shafique 102; Atkinson 2-70

England: still to beat

Scorecard

England got a late reward at the end of a grueling opening game on their tour of Pakistan, taking them to 328-4 with centuries from Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafique.

Two years ago, England achieved an unprecedented 3-0 victory here, but with a different team and in different conditions, this is always going to be a difficult task.

This emerged after Pakistan won the toss in sweltering heat and took the chance to bat first on the flattest pitch.

Gus Atkinson had Saim Ayub caught on the leg side in the fourth over but opener Shafique and captain Masood managed to score 253 for the second wicket.

Masood rolled over when he was given lbw to England debutant Brydon Carse on 16 and Shafique could have been thrown out on 34 by stand-in captain Ollie Pope.

Both men eventually fell within 17 deliveries, Shafique to Atkinson for 102 and Masood to Jack Leach for 151.

At 263-3, England were hoping to get more out of the day. However, hope was dashed when Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel added 61 and was then realized when Chris Woakes earlier pinned Babar's leg.

McCullum is right to be realistic

Brendon McCullum said before the start of this game that England were realistic about the challenge that awaits them. Maybe the coach had days like this in mind.

McCullum also defended the late arrival of bowling agent James Anderson, who was instrumental in England's success two years ago when he was still a player. Aside from his retirement, it is hard to imagine what Anderson could have done to help England cope with these conditions.

The throw was crucial. For all the talk of a green pitch, the surface was shaved just before play to leave a serene, run-filled batting paradise.

Apart from Pope reacting differently as the coin rose, there was little else England could have tried. This was as tough as it gets for a pace attack that has barely played abroad, a young spinner in Shoaib Bashir and another, Leach, playing his first Test since January.

Despite temperatures of 35 degrees, limited preparation time and the absence of injured captain Ben Stokes, England stuck to the task. Their efforts could not be faulted and they had earned Babar's valuable scalp.

The tourists can take comfort in the fact that the pitch will likely still be in good condition by the time they take bat. When that might be is the big question.

Masood and Shafique make money

Masood and his team are under pressure. Pakistan have gone 10 Tests without a home win and Masood has lost all five games as coach, including a 2-0 loss to Bangladesh in August.

But Masood openly expressed his admiration for England's attacking intent and showed some aggression himself after Ayub knocked down the leg side following Atkinson's tenth delivery of the day.

How different it would have been for England if Carse's ball had produced an LBW screamer that hadn't landed just outside Masood's leg stump, or if Pope's drive had hit the non-striker's stumps as a flying Shafique short of his ground stood. Pope may have had time to remove the deposits himself.

The left-handed Masood played through cover, Shafique towards mid-wicket. Both attacked Bashir and were unfazed by England's bouncers. For Shafique it was the first Test hundred since July 2023; for Masood, a first in four years.

Both men struggled with cramps as they fell in quick succession. Shafique drove Atkinson to Pope at cover, then Masood knocked a return catch to Leach.

Babar looked ominous for his 30 but then played past Woakes, leaving Shakeel on 35 alongside nightwatchman Naseem Shah.

England stays tuned

Pace bowling was key to England's success here two years ago, so a fresh-looking attack came into the spotlight ahead of this game. Woakes has a terrible record abroad, Atkinson had never played away, Carse had never played for England.

England lacked experience and support. The ball barely swung or spun and offered next to nothing for bowlers of all stripes.

Woakes started long before his effectiveness waned. Carse was lively and was asked to bowl bouncers as early as the 15th over of the day, a plan that England overplayed. Bashir was expensive and often lacked control.

England were led by Atkinson and Leach. The ball Atkinson threw to get Ayub was probably his worst ball of the day and he later tirelessly executed the plan to drag Shafique into a loose drive.

Left-armer Leach was overlooked in the home summer despite being the only top English bowler to have played in Pakistan before. He was by far England's most economical bowler and significantly outperformed Bashir.

As the light faded, Woakes was given the second new ball. The hit into Babar's front pad gave him only his seventh Test wicket in Asia and first since 2016.