Skipper Ben Stokes hailed England’s nail-biting victory in the first Testagainst Pakistan Monday as “one of the best” of his career — particularlygiven the state of the lifeless Rawalpindi pitch.
With just minutes to spare in dying light after five days of enthrallingcricket, England finally halted a heroic last stand by Pakistan’stailenders to win the first Test by 74 runs.
It was only the third time England have won a Test in Pakistan, althoughthey haven’t visited since 2005 because of security issues.
“To be able to get a result on this type of wicket is mind-blowing,” Stokessaid ahead of the second Test starting in Multan on Friday.
Both the teams reached Multan on Tuesday.
“I think it’s probably one of the best. The effort that everyone hasmanaged to put in this whole week is just incredible.”
England have “Bazball” to thank for their victory — the free-wheelingbrand of cricket coined from the nickname of new head coach Brendon “Baz”McCullum, a New Zealander.
McCullum was an aggressive batter in his playing days — he holds therecord for the fastest individual Test century — and under him, andskipper Stokes, the English have brought one-day cricket to the five-daygame.
Records tumbled in Rawalpindi with England becoming the only team inhistory to score 500 runs on the first day of a Test — courtesy of fourindividual centuries, another record.
Overall, some 1,768 runs were scored in the match — the third-highestaggregate since Test cricket began.
Still, Pakistan did well to peg back England’s daunting 657-runfirst-innings total to trail by just 78 runs.
England again turned on the fireworks in their second innings before a boldStokes declaration left Pakistan seeking 343 runs for victory.
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For a while, it looked as if the home team would do it — but a devastatinglast session saw England shine as the light dimmed for a famous victory.
“We’re pretty lost for words,” said Stokes, who now has seven wins in thelast eight Tests.
“I feel very honoured and feel a very privileged position to be able tolead these guys.
“Jimmy Anderson was saying he felt a bit emotional, so having a bloke withnear enough 180 Test matches (176) feeling like that at the end of this isproof that we’ve achieved something very special.”
Stokes suggested “Bazball” was here to stay.
“Test cricket is generally exciting when England are playing,” he said.”That’s what we set out to do from day one.”
And he praised the fighting spirit of his players in dealing with a mysteryvirus that threatened the start of the first Test.
“The way in which the lads just dealt with it and just cracked on was acredit to them as individuals and as a team,” he said.
Stokes also had praise for the home crowd — delighted to see England visitat last, but disappointed not to win.
“I’m not going to lie, the reception that we got walking off the field aswinners in Pakistan was very special,” he said. APP/AFP
