England scored a massive 500 runs against Pakistan on the first day of the historic Test series at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi. The English batsmen scored centuries as the tourists cantered to 506-4 at the close of play. The pair of Zack Crawley and Ben Duckett put up 174 runs in the first session before they both reached centuries as part of a record-breaking 233-run opening partnership. Earlier, the test had come under a grey cloud on the eve of the game with several players in the England team including skipper Ben Stokes falling sick because of an unnamed virus circulating in the camp.
Previous Records
The previous record for runs on the first day was the 494 Australia accumulated against South Africa in Sydney in 1910. There were four occasions on which more than 500 runs were made in a day of which three times by England and once by Sri Lanka. It was never on the opening day of the Test. The record is the 588 England ran up on day two of a test against India in 1936.
Pakistani Cricket Fans Are Disappointed
Pakistan fans are left unimpressed with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ramiz Raja coming under fire for the pitch preparation. Even Tom Moody took a sly dig by calling this the start of an ‘ODI series.’
Shoaib Akhtar Reacts
Former Pakistan fast bowler has been very critical about how the first Test match has played out. Akhtar did not mince words and said that England will grill the Pakistan bowling attack on day 2 and will look to score 700-odd runs. Akhtar further said that the PCB should look into these issues and ensure that they at least prepare tracks that are apt for Test cricket.
Are you not entertained!? ๐
๐ต๐ฐ #PAKvENG ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ pic.twitter.com/R2gTwjo2Nv
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) December 1, 2022
Check out the Reactions
Good to see the ODI series get started in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. #PakvEng
— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) December 1, 2022
Ramiz Raja has successfully ruined test cricket. As a commentator he used to complain all the time that the Pakistan team bats too slow.
As PCB chief he has given us pitches in which the opposition will smash us for 500 in 1 day.— Haider Abbasi (@HaiderKAbbasi) December 1, 2022
Ramiz Raja has successfully ruined test cricket. As a commentator he used to complain all the time that the Pakistan team bats too slow.
As PCB chief he has given us pitches in which the opposition will smash us for 500 in 1 day.— Haider Abbasi (@HaiderKAbbasi) December 1, 2022
"my way or the HIGHWAY"
~President General Ramiz Raja
— Marwah Khan (@TheMarwahKhan) December 1, 2022
WTF is this pitch @iramizraja
Did you learn nothing from the Australian series?
— Dil Dill Dennistan (@DennisCricket_) December 1, 2022
Ramiz Raja is trying to kill test cricket in Pakistan, no fan wants to watch pitches like this.
— Twitt.Arhum (@arhuml92) December 1, 2022
Sadly nothing gave the Pakistani viewers and cricket experts a reason to feel that it was a Test match.
