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The third Test between Pakistan and England in Rawalpindi has etched itself into the annals of cricketing history with an unprecedented event: the first innings saw no pace bowling delivered by England. This is only the second time in the history of Test cricket that such a phenomenon has occurred, the first instance dating back to 1882 when Australia's Joey Palmer and Edwin Evans bowled 115 four-ball overs against England at the SCG.
The dry and spin-friendly nature of the Rawalpindi pitch played a pivotal role in shaping the match. With England opting to bat first, Pakistan capitalized on the conditions by entrusting the new ball to their spinners, Sajid Khan and Noman Ali. Their mastery of spin and their ability to extract bounce from the surface immediately presented a formidable challenge for the English batsmen. The duo's opening partnership marked only the fourth instance in Test cricket history where two spinners opened the bowling with the new ball on the first morning, and the first time it happened in Pakistan.
Sajid and Noman, who had previously shared all 20 England wickets in their series-levelling victory in Multan, continued their dominance in Rawalpindi. They bowled a combined 42 consecutive overs together, demonstrating Pakistan's unwavering faith in their spin attack. The decision to refrain from introducing a third bowler in the morning session and the absence of Aamer Jamal, their lone seamer, from the England innings served as a clear indication of the spin-friendly nature of the wicket. This strategic approach paid dividends as Sajid (6-128) and Noman (3-88) wreaked havoc on England's batting lineup, while Zahid Mahmood chipped in with figures of 1/44. Salman Agha bowled just one over but remained wicketless.
Despite the challenging conditions, England's Jamie Smith displayed remarkable resilience, scoring a rearguard 89 to help England post a respectable total of 267 after they had stuttered to 110-5 at lunch. However, Pakistan's spinners were not done yet, and they ruthlessly exploited the favorable pitch to reduce England to 73-3 at close on the opening day of the series-deciding third Test. The dry, spin-friendly conditions in Rawalpindi resulted in 13 wickets falling on the first day, with all but one claimed by spinners. Gus Atkinson, England's lone fast bowler, was the only one to claim a wicket, dismissing Kamran Ghulam for three.
The lack of pace bowling in England's first innings highlights the growing significance of spin in modern-day cricket. In recent years, teams have increasingly prioritized spinners in their playing eleven, recognizing their ability to exploit dry, turning pitches. The Rawalpindi Test is a testament to this trend, with Pakistan's spin attack playing a decisive role in shaping the course of the match. It also marks a significant shift in the balance of power between bat and ball, with spin bowling increasingly dictating the terms of engagement in the modern game.
Source: England's first innings against Pakistan sees no pace for only second time in Test history