Babar Azam’s struggles with the bat continued as England’s Josh Tongue claimed the prized wicket of the Pakistan captain, clean bowling him for a mere 7 runs in the morning session of the 3rd Test at Edgbaston.
This crucial dismissal left Pakistan in disarray at 48/5 in the 15th over, having opted to bat first on a day that has clearly favoured the English bowlers. The visitors are now 60/5 after 16 overs, staring down a significant first-innings deficit early on Day 1.
Josh Tongue Takes Babar Azam Wicket
England Dominate Early
Having won the toss, England’s captain Joe Root made the astute decision to bowl first, and his pacers exploited the conditions perfectly. The early wickets tumbled rapidly for Pakistan, with Jofra Archer, Ollie Robinson, and now Josh Tongue making significant inroads. Azan Awais was caught by Josh Tongue off Jofra Archer, Abdullah Shafique was caught by Dan Lawrence off Ollie Robinson, and Shan Masood fell to a catch by substitute Sam Cook off Jofra Archer. The consistent pressure and accurate bowling have severely hampered Pakistan’s ability to build any meaningful partnerships.
Josh Tongue’s Crucial Breakthrough
Josh Tongue, introduced into the attack for the 15th over, struck immediately, dispatching Babar Azam with a good length delivery that snuck under the bat to hit the top of the off-stump. Babar, who faced 18 balls for his 7 runs, misjudged the length, failing to get forward and looking rooted to the crease. His departure for another low score underscores a challenging tour for the star batter.
Currently, Saud Shakeel is showing some resistance, batting on 24 off 25 balls, alongside debutant Ghazi Ghori, who is yet to score. Their partnership stands at 12 runs off 6 balls, a brief glimmer of hope amidst the carnage. England’s win probability stands at a dominant 90%, reflecting their commanding position.
Pakistan’s Uphill Battle and Series Context
Pakistan entered this 3rd Test of the three-match series hoping for a consolation win after having lost the previous two Tests. England had won the first Test by 194 runs and the second by an innings and 103 runs, already sealing the series victory. The visitors made several changes for this final encounter, including three Test debuts for Ghazi Ghori, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, and Razaullah Khan, along with the return of opening batter Saim Ayub. Despite these changes, the team finds itself in a familiar precarious position, highlighting the difficulties faced on this tour.
Pakistan’s batting lineup faces a monumental task to recover from this early collapse and post a competitive total against a rampant English attack, as they seek to salvage some pride in the final Test of the series. The onus is now on Saud Shakeel and the lower order to show significant resilience.