It wasn’t a question of if – it was always going to be when. England have become the first team to score 500 on the opening day of a Test match, breaking an Australian record that has stood since 1910, finishing on a new world record score of 4-506 at stumps on the first day in Rawalpindi.
They have been threatening this for a while: since Brendan McCullum took over as coach the Ashes debacle, England have played with the sort of attacking abandon that has made this kind of score likely.
Previously, that had been shown in chases. England hauled New Zealand and India, who contested the last World Test Championship Final, with fourth innings efforts that pushed 300 (and once exceeded it) with ease.
Yet this was not a given. England were in Pakistan for the first time since 2005 and had suffered an outbreak of illness in the camp that almost caused the first day to be delayed.
In the end, they got on the field, and once they did, the fireworks started immediately.
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope and Harry Brook all reached three figures as England racked up 4-506, obliterating the first-day record that had stood since Australia’s 494 against South Africa in 1910.
It was also the first time four batters had scored tons on the opening day, with Crawley hitting the fastest Test hundred by an England opener and Duckett and Brook compiling their first in Tests.
Crawley needed only 86 balls to bring up his century, which came shortly after lunch, and he hopes England can continue where they left off.
“No, I’ve never seen a day like that,” the disbelieving 24-year-old said. “It was unbelievable. Ducky batted fantastically and so did the other two boys. Hopefully we can go again tomorrow, get a big one and get a thousand – I’m joking!”
Crawley and Duckett put on a mammoth 233, the fastest double-century stand in Test history, for the first wicket, with the latter bringing up his own maiden century in the format from 108 balls on his recall to the side after a six-year absence.
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Duckett was one of the players struggling with a viral infection which briefly threatened to cause the game to be postponed by 24 hours on the eve of the match and admitted it was less-than-ideal preparation.
“It all happened really fast, towards the end of Tuesday night it just came on,” the Nottinghamshire opener said.
“I felt fine going to bed and I found out the next morning that there were about 13 or 14 others, so not the best build up to a Test match and certainly not the best for me in my first one back for six years.
“But it would have had to have taken a lot for me not to come to the ground today and play. Stokesy (captain Ben Stokes) said, ‘Let’s get out there and let’s take them on’.
“I think if the game was yesterday it would have been tough, but I think the lads have all done pretty well today.
“The energy levels probably weren’t the highest this morning, I think there were some happy men when we won the toss and batted and gave our bowlers another day to rest up.”
Pope and Brook carried on in the afternoon session where the opening duo left off as England showed no signs of slowing down.
Pope played elegantly for a chanceless century, from 90 deliveries, while Brook briefly threatened to score the fastest Test century by an Englishman with an entertaining knock, including one memorable over in which he struck Saud Shakeel for six successive fours.
England compiled their massive total off just 75 overs when bad light kicked in, with the Yorkshire batter finishing the day unbeaten on 101 from 81 deliveries, while Stokes was on 34 from just 15.
“We’ve just been looking to score and be positive all the time and have a good attitude in the field and that’s been the biggest thing that Baz (coach Brendon McCullum) and Stokesy have brought in,” Crawley said.
“So that’s what we’re trying to do, more entertain the crowd than winning.
“Winning is great but part of our goal is to make people want to watch Test cricket. Hopefully that’s happening.”
With agencies
nics
Roar Rookie
You said "winning didn't work for Langer". I've mentioned that while he did win some test matches, he lost two home series against India. Enough said.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Hard to recall what happened in Tests in the last 3 years, so little of it, so many fun 20 over innings, unless there was rain, then 7 overs constituted a result. Fun had by all, I'm sure!
Micko
Roar Rookie
The pitch quality is pretty low too!
nics
Roar Rookie
I think if you read carefully, you'll figure that I was being sarcastic. We lost both series against India, if you recall.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Tangents? You were the one who said Australia shouldn't count a win against India because one opposition player was missing! You do realise I was responding to your comment, don't you? You sound confused by your own opinion!
nics
Roar Rookie
You've gone on a few too many tangents friend. I enjoy Tests much more than T20. Speaking of results - didn't we win a test series away (in Pakistan)? Something we didn't manage under the old regime.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Cute! You're right, the Aussies shoulda just reacted to their opponents selecting their team, for their reasons and just requested that the ICC only recognize those games as exhibitions, with no team or player results recorded, so they could rest players and give Aussie caps to their List A players. They could call it the Tourists vs Prime Ministers XI and play it at a country venue! The ICC World Test Championship is obviously an anachronistic throwback to results driven sport which obviously not only traumatizes many players, but spectators who see competition as abhorrent! Enjoy the Big Bash, nic.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Hahahaha! Or they can actually understand that the coaches comments are about a team plan and their part in it, not personal attacks! I'm not sure how widely read you are CAM, but the media is littered with statements from players of many sports whose positions are dependent on team selection saying they got no feedback and being dropped was a complete surprise! If you're Greg Chappell and go through half a dozen innings under 10, the coach and selectors will stick with you. If you're Mike Hussey, they may too, but a coach saying you've had a tough trot, we want to stick with you, but you need runs in the next game, or we need to bolster the middle order with one of the Shield guys who's banging down the door, is a professional coach talking about the needs of the team, not a parent taking a kids toys away because they won't put the bins out! Of course Hussey knows that, but now the hierarchy has informed and reiterated the TEAM need. Don't like that? Then be your own boss and play tennis or golf!
nics
Roar Rookie
Yes i really enjoyed us winning those home test series against India twice. The second was especially remarkable given Kohli went home after the first test and we absolutely pounded an India B side at the Gabba. Would never have happened if Langer was coaching.
Bloke7
Roar Rookie
Hmm... Australia batted a great total and their bowlers showed it wasn't just the pitch. England smash a phenomenal total but so far not looking like it was just them. Still a long way for Pakistan to go but that's a lot of runs scored in 2 days.
badmanners
Roar Rookie
Big week of double tons! Smith, Marnus and Zahid Mahmood!
Grand Panjandrum
Guest
Good play by England yesterday. An all out attack is tactically the only thing that can give the English a win on this deck. Had they just nurdled 300, then the game would already be a draw. Honestly, 800 by tea may not be enough to win by an innings. 1. There will be an hour of play lost every day due to bad light. That sun will only set earlier every day. That's 75 precious overs lost. 60 of which will be for English bowlers. 2. This pitch is so placid, England may not even get the 20 wickets even with 3.5 days of bowling. 3. Pakistan could conceivably take their time and get to 600 before being dismissed, and England would need to bat again and there goes a victory.
jammel
Roar Rookie
Yes Matt - my economical comment wasn't suggesting that we counter bazball by drying up runs (or trying to dry up runs). It was essentially that - to succeed in England more generally - we need to exercise more control/build more pressure (especially in regular Test conditions - swing/seam/new ball/etc). If the English batsmen are ultimately flaying the bowling, I think Starc would be flayed as much as eg Boland/Neser. Agree trying to get them out quickly is the best approach. But I just don't think that will happen once batsmen take the pressure off with easy scoring balls.
matth
Roar Guru
I’d be careful by responding with trying to dry up the runs. That likely won’t work, so better if getting them out as quick as possible.
Grand Panjandrum
Guest
The fact that the team at tea were all in whites and waiting on the boundary for Smith and Head to get a century was fairly indicative that they would have declared at tea if not for the fairly senseless chasing of milestones... Yesterday was just average inflation.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
Yep beware the early declaration. Although Eng have so much time that they can go to tea time with 700 plus and there is surely no way back from there? Although SL's 6/952 came after India's 8/537. There is always a chance Pakistan might make a few inroads early and Eng might be all out for 600 with a ton of time on the clock . It was funny yesterday, the commentators baying for an earlier declaration from Australia and sledging the WI, at the same time they were cheering Smith and Head to their milestones While not likely they will even up, why give WI more time to settle in on a placid pitch?
Grand Panjandrum
Guest
Oh, I think neither Pakistan or England will struggle to score on day 5 with this pitch. Perhaps on day 50 there might be a hint of movement off the deck.
jammel
Roar Rookie
I wouldn't be writing off our chances just yet. But the bowling does need some thinking. I don't think it can be Starc/Hazelwood/Cummins in all matches. Starc maybe shouldn't be starting in the first Test. I'd love to see the form pick of Jhye/Boland/Neser playing at least a few Tests. IMO they'd be more economical than Starc. Josh will be superb as always. Patty C needs to stay in his lane - and by that I mean hitting the top of off stump :) :) :)
Grand Panjandrum
Guest
The two pitches in Perth and Pindi would have been superb pitches in the timeless era. Neither are going to break up for another lunar cycle. Only an earthquake could put a crack in the Pindi one.
Shire
Roar Rookie
"Sub-par" Cummins has taken 35 wickets @ 22.4 in the last calendar year which included having to bowl on dull, lifeless, Pakistani pitches. If that's what makes for sub-par, then there's only about five or six bowlers in cricket history that you'd rate as being worth a look.