England’s Test series against Pakistan ended in disappointment as they suffered a 2-1 defeat, with a humiliating 112-all out in the second innings of the third Test. Captain Ben Stokes, who returned from injury in the second Test, endured a dismal series, culminating in an embarrassing dismissal in the final innings.
Stokes, batting on three runs, opted to leave a delivery from Noman Ali in the 22nd over. However, the ball kept low and turned back in, trapping Stokes plumb on the pads. The dismissal left England reeling at 70/5, and they proceeded to lose their remaining wickets for just 42 runs.
Pakistan’s spinners, Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, proved to be England’s undoing, claiming 39 of the 40 English wickets in the second and third Tests. England’s successive defeats have severely dented their hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle final.
Stokes’s return from injury has been far from impressive, with the all-rounder managing only 53 runs in four innings. Apart from a knock of 37 in the second Test, he has failed to cross 15 in an innings.
England’s batting woes have been compounded by the absence of key players such as Jonny Bairstow and Jofra Archer. The team’s inability to adapt to the spin-friendly conditions in Pakistan has been a major factor in their downfall.
Pakistan, on the other hand, have been buoyed by the performances of their spinners. Noman Ali and Sajid Khan have been virtually unplayable at times, and their ability to extract turn and bounce from the pitches has been a major advantage.
The series win is a significant boost for Pakistan, who have been struggling in Test cricket in recent years. It also marks a disappointing end to England’s tour of Pakistan, which began with a dramatic victory in the first Test in Multan.
