Life comes a full circle for Shan Masood at Manchester

Failure is the first step to success, they say. Not many, though, have the dedication and passion to pounce on failures in life and footstep upon them to rise to the summit. A sound left-hand opener from Pakistan, Shan Masood’s tale is a classic example of overcoming past failures to clinch glory.

Masood arrived to the international scene with a gritty 75 on Test-debut against the likes of Steyn, Philander, and Morkel at Dubai. However, the young batsman faced harsh realities of life pretty early in his career. Things stopped happening the way he would have liked in the time that followed.

The setback

In October 2015, after failing to rise to the expectations, Masood was on the brink of becoming a disappointment in the purest format of the game. The opener struggled to hold his ground against the might of James Anderson who dismissed him four on four times in the two-Test series in the UAE.

English conditions have taken the test of the best and the bowlers there are never kind. During the 2016 tour to England, Masood’s technique was put under the scanner as Anderson’s haunt was back and he ripped him apart by dismissing him twice in four innings.

To be outclassed against England’s leading Test-wicket taker; who flustered even the soundest batsmen over the years was not to be ashamed of. However, many felt that Masood didn’t belong. He was mature to understand the need for making an adjustment. What made him enter the team rising from junior-level cricket, was no longer helping him.

Undertaking the grind, Masood tweaked his technique, altered his stance, and took the only viable route to comeback: getting runs in domestic cricket. His exploits in the circuit earned him a spot in the three-Test series against West Indies in 2017 and he finally got a chance in the third Test. With 9 and 21, he didn’t further his case and all it took him to be dumped again was an underwhelming series that followed against Sri Lanka.

Coming back in style

Shan Masood’s last three innings in Tests:

135
100
100*#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/StAotwTeaI

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) August 6, 2020

Masood still had the fire inside. He continued to rack up runs in the domestic circuit for he knew that this was the only way to earn the ticket inside. His toil paid off as he earned a call in the series against South Africa and this time he made sure to grab eyeballs. With 228 runs at 55.88 against South Africa and few decent outings in the series against Australia, Masood showed signs that he belonged.

What followed is an inspiring effort as Masood slammed back to back centuries initiated from his 135 (198) against Sri Lanka to 100 (160) versus Bangladesh. He finally completed the hat-trick as he played a coming of age innings against England in the recently concluded Test at Manchester. His 319-ball 156 was the epitome of resilience, technique, and patience, and even though his team ended on the wrong side of the result, life came a full circle for Masood with this special knock in England.