Pakistan captain Shan Masood admitted to feeling gutted after his team suffered an innings defeat in the first Test against England. Despite scoring a mammoth 556 runs in their first innings, Pakistan became the first team in Test history to lose a match after reaching this milestone. This defeat highlights a pattern of struggles for Pakistan, as Masood candidly stated, “Harsh reality is that in test cricket quality sides find a way to win matches.” England, on the other hand, demonstrated their mettle by capitalizing on opportunities and securing a decisive victory.
Masood, who himself scored a commendable 151 runs in the first innings, attributed their loss to their inability to take 20 wickets, a recurring issue for the team. “We expected this pitch to break by the third day onwards that is why we prolonged our innings. But at the end of the day you have to find ways to take 20 wickets and we are not doing that in recent times.” He emphasized that while the pitch conditions were similar for both teams, a successful Test match strategy involves putting up a strong first innings score to gain control in the later stages of the game.
Despite the challenging conditions, Masood highlighted the need for his team to adapt to the evolving pitch throughout the Test match. He also expressed concern over the team’s tendency to repeat the same mistakes. “We can’t blame anyone but ourselves. Where we made lapses they didn’t and capitalised on their opportunities. The pitch character did change on the fourth day when we came to bat as some cracks had opened up and there was a little something for the bowlers with the new ball.”
The persistent poor form of Babar Azam, a key player for Pakistan, is a matter of concern. When asked about giving Azam a break, Masood expressed hope for a strong performance in the next innings but acknowledged the need for a comprehensive review of the team’s strategy for the upcoming Test. “We will sit down and reflect on this test and then make decisions on the squad for the next test.” This defeat has exposed areas of vulnerability within the Pakistan team. As they prepare for the second Test, they face the challenge of addressing their shortcomings and finding a winning formula to overcome their current struggles.
