England defied by ton from debutant Ghulam

Second Test, Multan (day one of five)

Pakistan 259-5: Ghulam 118, Ayub 77; Leach 2-92

England: yet to bat

Scorecard

England were defied by a century on debut by Pakistan’s Kamran Ghulam on the opening day of the second Test in Multan.

Ghulam, in the side after the seismic axing of Babar Azam, made a splendid 118 to help the home side to 259-5.

The 29-year-old’s effort allayed any suggestion batting would be impossible on a pitch that was also used for England’s innings victory on this ground last week.

When spinner Jack Leach reduced Pakistan to 19-2 inside the opening 10 overs, there were fears the Test would become little more than a lottery, over in three days maximum.

But Ghulam shared a third-wicket stand of 149 with Saim Ayub, who made 77, then carried on after he lost Ayub and Saud Shakeel in quick succession.

Overall, England’s spinners struggled and the tourists’ threat came from their seamers, including captain Ben Stokes, playing his first Test since July. Stokes, Brydon Carse and Matthew Potts were magnificent in reverse-swinging the ball either side of tea.

Ghulam was able to build another partnership of 65 with Mohammed Rizwan, the wicketkeeper crucially surviving an edge off Potts which England did not review.

In the closing stages, Shoaib Bashir bounced back from a difficult day to bowl Ghulam, leaving the Test beautifully poised.

If the wisdom of Pakistan recycling the pitch from the first Test in the hope of getting a different result is debatable, there is no denying it created a fascinating spectacle. In truth, it was far more watchable than England’s record-breaking run-scoring of last week.

The incredibly unusual situation meant a step into the unknown, with no one entirely sure how the pitch would play and the two teams responding with contrasting selections.

Pakistan’s gamble on both the conditions and including three spinners largely hinged on their success at the toss. England’s decision to field three seamers was vindicated by the key role they played across the afternoon.

The events of the early morning – England employed spin from both ends inside seven overs and Leach had two wickets from his first 16 balls – suggested a spin-dominated Test possibly completed in the blink of an eye.

What followed was an arm-wrestle, with runs available, and pace important enough to suggest Pakistan may be light in having just Aamer Jamal in their side.

Amid all the questions, there can be plenty of confidence over the prospect of the pitch deteriorating further – there were times when the seamers had the ball rolling through - making England’s likely task of batting last all the harder.

On balance, Pakistan are maybe just ahead, yet England still have the chance to wrap up the innings for something manageable, then to bat well themselves.

For Ghulam, who was playing for Barnsley-based Hoylandswaine Cricket Club earlier this year, it was a monumental ask to fill the shoes of superstar Babar and help vindicate Pakistan’s all-in strategy.

He responded by becoming the 13th man to make a Test century on debut for Pakistan in a display of determination, composure and incredible skill.

After Abdullah Shafique was bowled and captain Shan Masood patted to mid-wicket, Ghulam and Ayub dovetailed to blunt England. Both men were keen to attack the spinners and strong on the sweep.

Only when England reverted to pace did Ghulam look uncomfortable. As England applied pressure after tea, Ghulam tried to counter and escaped the fingertips of Ben Duckett with a swipe at Leach on 79.

Eventually, Ghulam was able to hoick Joe Root to the mid-wicket boundary, reaching three figures from 192 balls, celebrating with high emotion in the direction of the home dressing room.

With the help of Rizwan it looked like Ghulam would remain until the close, only to run past Bashir. If he had not been bowled, he would have been stumped by some distance.

England had to persevere on the first day of the first Test, conceding 328-4 in a game they went on to win. A week on, England battled just as hard, though may find this one harder to turn around.

Leach caused early problems before his effectiveness waned. Bashir struggled with his line. Stokes tinkered with the field, to no avail.

The seamers were largely held back until past the midway point of the day. Stokes, returning from a hamstring injury, and his Durham team-mates Carse and Potts got the ball to reverse and keep low, creating a new dynamic.

Stokes got creative with his fields, often with as many as seven catchers, mostly in front of the bat. Ayub patted Potts to Stokes himself at short mid-off and Carse found the edge of Saud Shakeel.

How different might the day have been had Stokes granted Potts’ request for a review when Rizwan edged to Jamie Smith? Rizwan had six and remains on 37.

England took the second new ball and managed to keep a lid on scoring. It is to Bashir’s immense credit that he persevered, luring Ghulam into his rash stroke.