Record-breaker: Will Jacks
(Picture: AFP via Getty Images)Will Jacks claimed the final three Pakistan wickets to finish with debut figures of 6-161 as the home side were bowled out for 579.
It was the first time since 1993 that an England spinner has claimed a five-wicket haul on debut. An achievement made all the more remarkable by it being the first time Jacks has claimed more than four wickets in an innings in his career.
Jacks’ offspin, whilst far more serviceable than to be considered part-time, is still very much a work in progress and the second string to his bow behind his batting. This innings was only the second time in his career that he has bowled more than 30 overs in an innings.
But this morning he was England’s key man as Pakistan were bowled out for 579, giving the visiting side a first-innings lead of 78.
The first wicket to fall was that of Pakistan debutant Agha Salman who had compiled a brisk half-century as he looked to bash his side to within touching distance of England, in particular targeting Jacks with a number of reverse sweeps as he took Pakistan past 550. But Jacks would have the final say after a fine bit of bowling saw Salman edge to Zak Crawley at slip.
Zahid Mahmood and Haris Rauf would soon follow, Mahmood out stumped by the narrowest of margins after he missed a reverse sweep before Rauf targeted a slog into neighboring Islamabad only to get an edge through Joe Root at slip.
It was a remarkable performance for Jacks, who only discovered that he was playing two minutes before he was presented with his cap on day one after Ben Foakes failed a late fitness Test. But England’s initial misfortune turned into their saving grace, as Jacks finished as the key man in their attempts to force a result. His overs becoming all the more important given an injury to Liam Livingstone has meant he was unable to bowl.
England lost two wickets in the seven overs they had to bat until lunch. First, Ben Duckett fell for a golden duck as he pushed at a wide Naseem Shah delivery and edged to second slip, before Ollie Pope found the man on the fine leg boundary with a pull as England finished the morning session on 46-2. A lead of 124.
Ahead of the game Joe Root said that “there’s only two results possible when we play and if Pakistan are good enough to beat us and outplay us then fair play to them but we’ll be doing everything we can to win.”
Those cards are in England’s hands now as, assuming they don’t collapse in a complete heap, they will be in charge of what target they wish to set Pakistan on a pitch where runs have been free to come by. If this game involved anyone other than this current England side, a draw would be all but assured. But as it happens, it is anyone’s guess as to what England have in store for us next.
