Tests in England: Pakistan’s opening problems
It was 20 years ago that an opening duo put on a fifty stand in UK
Mohammad Hafeez leaves the pitch after losing his wicket for 42 runs at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester, England on July 25, 2016. PHOTO: AFP
MANCHESTER:
Poor starts have been a problem for Pakistan in their ongoing four-Test series in England, which now stands at 1-1 after the hosts’ 330-run win in the second match at Old Trafford on Monday.
But Mohammad Hafeez and Shan Masood are not the first Pakistan opening pair to struggle in English conditions.
Indeed you have to go back to 1996 for the last time a Pakistan first-wicket duo put on a fifty stand in a Test against England in England.
Below AFP Sport looks back at that lengthy list of short-lived opening stands by Pakistan against England in England (batsmen, stand, innings of match, venue, year):
Cook praises Root’s heroics as Misbah cites ‘disappointment’ towards batting
Mohammad Hafeez, Shan Masood 27 2 Old Trafford 2016
Mohammad Hafeez, Shan Masood 7 4 Old Trafford 2016
Mohammad Hafeez, Shan Masood 38 1 Lord's 2016
Mohammad Hafeez, Shan Masood 2 3 Lord's 2016
Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed 9 2 Lord's 2010
Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed 7 3 Lord's 2010
Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed 48 2 The Oval 2010
Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed 5 4 The Oval 2010
Imran Farhat, Salman Butt 8 1 Edgbaston 2010
Imran Farhat, Salman Butt 1 3 Edgbaston 2010
Imran Farhat, Salman Butt 5 2 Trent Bridge 2010
Imran Farhat, Salman Butt 10 4 Trent Bridge 2010
After Old Trafford debacle: Shoaib calls for changes ahead of third Test
Imran Farhat, Mohammad Hafeez 35* 2 The Oval 2006
Salman Butt, Taufeeq Umar 34 2 Headingley 2006
Salman Butt, Taufeeq Umar 23 4 Headingley 2006
Imran Farhat, Kamran Akmal 4 1 Old Trafford 2006
Imran Farhat, Kamran Akmal 21 3 Old Trafford 2006
Imran Farhat, Salman Butt 28 2 Lord's 2006
Imran Farhat, Salman Butt 0 4 Lord's 2006
Abdul Razzaq, Saeed Anwar 6 1 Old Trafford 2001
Abdul Razzaq, Saeed Anwar 24 3 Old Trafford 2001
Saeed Anwar, Saleem Elahi 4 2 Lord's 2001
Saeed Anwar, Saleem Elahi 2 3 Lord's 2001
Aamer Sohail, Saeed Anwar 106 2 The Oval 1996
* = Hafeez retired hurt before resuming his innings, first wicket fell at 70 -- number three Younus Khan.
Poor starts have been a problem for Pakistan in their ongoing four-Test series in England, which now stands at 1-1 after the hosts’ 330-run win in the second match at Old Trafford on Monday.
But Mohammad Hafeez and Shan Masood are not the first Pakistan opening pair to struggle in English conditions.
Indeed you have to go back to 1996 for the last time a Pakistan first-wicket duo put on a fifty stand in a Test against England in England.
Below AFP Sport looks back at that lengthy list of short-lived opening stands by Pakistan against England in England (batsmen, stand, innings of match, venue, year):
Cook praises Root’s heroics as Misbah cites ‘disappointment’ towards batting
Mohammad Hafeez, Shan Masood 27 2 Old Trafford 2016
Mohammad Hafeez, Shan Masood 7 4 Old Trafford 2016
Mohammad Hafeez, Shan Masood 38 1 Lord's 2016
Mohammad Hafeez, Shan Masood 2 3 Lord's 2016
Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed 9 2 Lord's 2010
Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed 7 3 Lord's 2010
Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed 48 2 The Oval 2010
Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed 5 4 The Oval 2010
Imran Farhat, Salman Butt 8 1 Edgbaston 2010
Imran Farhat, Salman Butt 1 3 Edgbaston 2010
Imran Farhat, Salman Butt 5 2 Trent Bridge 2010
Imran Farhat, Salman Butt 10 4 Trent Bridge 2010
After Old Trafford debacle: Shoaib calls for changes ahead of third Test
Imran Farhat, Mohammad Hafeez 35* 2 The Oval 2006
Salman Butt, Taufeeq Umar 34 2 Headingley 2006
Salman Butt, Taufeeq Umar 23 4 Headingley 2006
Imran Farhat, Kamran Akmal 4 1 Old Trafford 2006
Imran Farhat, Kamran Akmal 21 3 Old Trafford 2006
Imran Farhat, Salman Butt 28 2 Lord's 2006
Imran Farhat, Salman Butt 0 4 Lord's 2006
Abdul Razzaq, Saeed Anwar 6 1 Old Trafford 2001
Abdul Razzaq, Saeed Anwar 24 3 Old Trafford 2001
Saeed Anwar, Saleem Elahi 4 2 Lord's 2001
Saeed Anwar, Saleem Elahi 2 3 Lord's 2001
Aamer Sohail, Saeed Anwar 106 2 The Oval 1996
* = Hafeez retired hurt before resuming his innings, first wicket fell at 70 -- number three Younus Khan.