ENG vs PAK: Five most memorable Test encounters
Pakistan are set to lock horns with England in three Tests and as many T20Is, starting from 5th August (Wednesday). The first Test between the two heavyweights will be played at Old Trafford and it will mark the start of the 26th Test series between both the cricketing nations.
In the 83 matches played between both the sides, England have clinched victory in 25 Tests while Pakistan have emerged winners on 21 occasions. There have also been 37 draws between them.
The world has so far witnessed a fair share of rivalry between England and Pakistan as both the sides have battled it out in many exciting matches, resulting in several iconic on-field moments. Ahead of the much-awaited Test series, let’s look at five such encounters between England and Pakistan:
1. Pushups at Lord’s
Misbah-ul-Haq, at the age of 42, became the oldest Test skipper to score a century as the Pakistan side pulled off an iconic 75-run triumph in 2016. Along with the victory, the sight of celebrations hogged the headlines. First Misbah and then the whole team celebrated on the field by doing a series of pushups, catching the eye of every cricket fanatic across the globe. The pushups indicated Pakistan’s conquest as they climbed to the No.1 spot in Tests by drawing the series 2-2 on the England soil.
2. Stuart Broad’s century and spot-fixing
Of course it’d be Mohammad Amir to dismiss the England skipper. A no-ball could’ve been useful after all! #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/toADD5jtQO
— Net World Sports (@NetWorldSports) July 15, 2016
The 2010 Lord’s Test grabbed the headlines for two distinct reasons. Pacer Stuart Broad, while stitching 332 for the eighth wicket, etched his name on the famous honours boards by playing a historic 169-run knock.
However, Broad’s impressive batting display was tainted by the spot-fixing scandal. Amir and Mohammad Asif bowled no-balls to order under instructions from skipper Salman Butt, resulting in one of the most shambolic moments in the history of the sport.
3. Ian Botham’s scintillating spell
Being already 1-0 up, England dismantled the Pakistan batting force in the second Test to prove their dominance at the Home of Cricket– ‘The Lord’s’ in 1978.
Star all-rounder Ian Botham delivered with the bat first as he stitched an impressive 108 when England was reeling at 134/5. Botham’s knock guided his side to post a dominant 364-run total on the board. It didn’t end there as the all-rounder flaunted his bowling expertise, registering bowling figures of 8/34 and playing a crucial role in England securing an innings victory.
4. Pakistan forfeiting the Test
A bizarre moment happened at The Oval during the fourth Test between England and Pakistan in 2006. Match umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove deemed that Pakistan was involved in ball-tampering, awarding five penalty runs to England. They even let the English side have a replacement ball.
However, what followed was the Pakistan squad not returning to the field after the tea break. Umpires waited on the pitch for 20 minutes before asking the visitors about the matter. After receiving a vague response, the umpires eventually whipped the bails to indicate the Test forfeit and awarded the match to England.
5. Pakistan’s first Test series win against England in 1984
Pakistan registered their first win at home against England with Abdul Qadir picking up eight wickets in the series opener. The second Test at Faisalabad ended in a draw but it was the third Test which emerged as a historic one for the hosts.
In the third and final Test at Lahore, Pakistan were bolstered by a 173-run stand between Mohsin Khan and Shoaib Mohammad. Chasing a target of 243, Pakistan ended with amassing 271 runs on the board. However, Pakistan managed to script history by securing their first Test series win against England.
