England’s bowlers have been compelled to toil laborious within the sweltering Multan warmth however Ollie Pope’s facet needs to be pleased with their efforts on day one of many first Take a look at, says Sky Sports activities’ Nasser Hussain.

England managed to take 4 wickets however not earlier than Pakistan’s captain Shan Masood (151) and fellow centurion Abdullah Shafique (102) shared a mammoth 253-run stand for the second wicket.

The hosts have been 328-4 at shut of play with Gus Atkinson (2-70) accounting for a few wickets and Jack Leach (1-61) and Chris Woakes (1-58) taking one apiece.

“You can not criticise Pope and the bowlers, they caught to their duties, they gave it all the things, that’s as powerful because it will get as a bowling unit,” mentioned Hussain on Sky Sports activities Cricket.

“You’ll be able to solely do what they did at present and England needs to be pleased with that.

“You are strolling off considering you probably did properly and that is the distinction of taking part in at house and taking part in away from house.

“If you happen to stroll off in England and the opposition have gotten 328-4 first digs, a variety of the time you are out the sport with the Dukes ball and in English situations. Right here, you are still within the sport.

“Now, we’re taking a look at physique language, pace, health and England confirmed constructive indicators in all of that.”

England’s tempo bowler Atkinson was the primary to strike eradicating Pakistan’s opener Saim Ayub (4) cheaply within the fourth over.

Nevertheless, it wasn’t till the sixtieth over that England would choose up their second wicket with Atkinson having Shafique caught by Pope at cowl to finish a gruelling 56-over breakthrough drought.

Woakes struck with the brand new ball late within the night session to take away Pakistan’s Babar Azam (30) and provides England a much-needed raise on the finish of the day.

Babar, who captained Pakistan throughout England’s earlier go to in 2022, has struggled for type, scoring his final Take a look at century in 2023 towards New Zealand and his final fifty in June of the identical yr towards Sri Lanka.

“If you happen to’ve bought an incredible participant down, it’s important to maintain them down, possibly not within the context of at present or of this sport, however within the context of the sequence, it’s important to maintain their nice participant down for so long as attainable,” added Hussain.

“England win or lose video games rapidly. They are not used to such lengthy toil within the subject. This may have taken quite a bit out of them.

“Why was James Anderson such an incredible bowler? Not a lot what he did at 11 o’clock within the morning however what number of captains went to him or to Stuart Broad at 5.30pm within the night, asking them to go once more and get one earlier than the shut.

“It was an enormous day for Masood, not simply by way of getting runs, however he understood the sport state of affairs. The second [Shoaib] Bashir got here on, he went after him. He seemed in good order, there have been a few main edges in there however you may at all times have that.

“He seemed bodily match, they ran laborious. In the long run, the best way they ran really price them as a result of they bought so bodily drained they began to cramp up.

“England’s bowlers are going to be stiff however that is the sport.

“So far as Take a look at cricket goes, we won’t afford this wicket to remain flat for 5 days, this pitch does have to deteriorate and spin.”

England’s efforts within the context of their younger and largely inexperienced bowling assault are additionally spectacular.

They handed 29-year-old Brydon Carse his Take a look at debut while 26-year-old Atkinson is taking part in in his first abroad tour and 20-year-old Bashir options in a Take a look at sequence away from house for the primary time since taking part in in India earlier this yr.

“You’ll be able to’t decide England too harshly,” mentioned Sky Sports activities’ Michael Atherton.

“You need to do not forget that Take a look at cricket on this a part of the world, typically, you may have flat pitches, and lengthy sizzling days.

“It is also a reconstituted assault with Carse and Atkinson so these are mitigating circumstances.

“Woakes additionally has some extent to show in abroad situations.”

Patel: Hell of an effort from England

England spin bowling coach Jeetan Patel additionally applauded the trouble put in by the bowlers who needed to toil laborious for little reward on a flat wicket in 40 diploma warmth.

“Stable toil. I am fairly pleased with the boys to place in that stint within the final session. We spoke this morning about chasing the ball laborious within the subject, it doesn’t matter what the day brings us,” Patel mentioned on Sky Sports activities Cricket.

“That is such a straightforward factor to do, however in situations like this, it is easy to cease doing. What the boys did tonight was sensible. It was a hell of an effort from the boys.

“You at all times need one or two extra [wickets], do not you? Six down on the finish of the day would have been wonderful. However to have them one down at tea and take three wickets within the final session actually units up tomorrow morning for us.

“We at all times discuss placing two on it. If we put two on it, how does the sport change? Pakistan have gotten a nightwatchman in, so possibly we might put three on it.

“Perhaps that would be the considering within the morning. We take into consideration getting wickets on a regular basis. Then, at 350-7… who is aware of? We are able to solely decide the wicket as soon as we bat on it.”

First Take a look at: Multan – October 7-11

Second Take a look at: Multan – October 15-19

Third Take a look at: Rawalpindi – October 24-28

Each match from the 2024 Ladies’s T20 World Cup can be stay on Sky Sports activities from October 3-20 with Australia aiming for a 3rd straight title and seventh total, and England looking for to triumph for the primary time for the reason that inaugural version in 2009.

Watch day two of the primary Take a look at between Pakistan and England in Multan, stay on Sky Sports activities Cricket and Principal Occasion from 5.50am on Tuesday, forward of play ranging from 6am.