ENGLAND again demolished the dismal Pakistan batting to move on course for a 3-0 clean sweep on the opening day of the third Test at Edgbaston.
After ripping out the tourists for only 133, England already have a 23-run advantage on 156-4.
Following a week of turmoil in which Pakistan sent seven players home, called up seven more and changed their coach, the outcome was much the same as the first two Tests.
Though the dry pitch seemed good for batting, a moody morning sky convinced England captain Joe Root to field first and his new-look pace attack was outstanding once more.
Pakistan failed to reach 200 for the fifth consecutive innings, while none of the top five made double figures. Saud Shakeel at least managed 43 and the ineptitude of the top order was put into context by last-wicket pair Muhammad Abbas and Mohammad Ali adding 26 in 46 balls – the best partnership of the innings.
(Scores: Pakistan 133: Shakeel 43; Tongue 4-42, Robinson 3-15, Archer 3-25
England 156-4: Gay 60, Brook 52*)
Josh Tongue bowled quickly for his 4-42, Ollie Robinson passed 100 Test wickets with his 3-15 and Jofra Archer claimed the remaining three scalps.
In truth, it was a disappointing and dispiriting spectacle, but Pakistan showed some fight with the ball, not least when rapid debutant Razaullah inflicted yet another lbw on Root to leave England 39-3.
Emilio Gay and Harry Brook steadied England, each making half-centuries in a stand of 104 that pushed the hosts into the lead.
Gay dragged on off Razaullah. His gritty 60 was impressive, if perhaps not enough to provide certainty around his place in a congested England batting line-up.
Pakistan changes fail to alter one-sided contest
The pattern of this day was entirely predictable from the moment Root won the toss and there were times in the early going when the action was neither elite sport nor satisfying entertainment.
The conditions for a Test played in September were autumnal and one side of Edgbaston is a building site. Some 15,000 tickets were sold for today, yet the ground was not half-full when play began. The atmosphere was flat.
Pakistan made four changes from the second Test at Lord’s, including three debutants. England, as expected, resisted tinkering with their attack and the hosts had the Pakistan innings wrapped up in 33.5 overs.
At least Pakistan landed some blows on the England top-order. Ben Duckett and Jordan Cox played loose shots – potentially costly for Cox as he looks to nail down his place – and Root was lbw for the 10th time in 13 innings in Razaullah’s first over in Test cricket.
Gay and Brook restored order in the evening sunshine and it already seems certain England will win before the weekend. It could even be over inside two days.
Quite what Root’s developing England team can take from this series is unclear. The disparity between the two sides in these conditions is simply too large.
