One can’t help but feel that had Pakistan played one session slightly better, they could be coming out of the Test series against England as victors. But then again, had Pakistan managed to survive on Day 5 at Edgbaston, the English side might not have been as complacent as they were at The Oval.
A series win for either side would have been harsh on the other. The 2-2 draw is a fair reflection on a series in which both sides managed to comprehensively beat the other in one Test each, while narrowly overcoming in their respective second triumphs. And to be fair, Pakistan would have snatched it had they been offered two wins in England prior to the tour’s start.
But then Lord’s happened, and expectations were pushed up (pun intended). The Old Trafford hammering was a rude awakening and all of a sudden Pakistan were facing down the barrel. A 100 run lead going into the 3rd innings at Edgbaston meant that Pakistan were well and truly back in business. The final-day collapse in the third Test made a 3-1 anticlimactic drubbing an odds-on reality.
Honours even
The idea that 'predictably unpredictable' Pakistan can be the number one Test side has taken birth at The Oval
In a way the 2-2 final score at The Oval reflects more positively on this Pakistan side than a series win would have. It would be hard to recall a Pakistani Test side that would have bounced back as resoundingly after the morale-bending defeat in Birmingham. Misbah’s team has comprehensively proven that they are not desert bandits bullying sides in the Emirates. The current Pakistan side is more than a match for anyone, anywhere in the world. And this fact has been etched at The Oval.
After England managed 328 in their first innings, despite having been just over a hundred for five, it seemed as though it would be Edgbaston all over again. Yasir Shah hadn’t taken a single wicket and Muhammad Amir failed to touch the highs that he was expected to - again. It was another five-for for Sohail Khan and an invaluable three-wicket haul for Wahab Riaz that helped Pakistan make early inroads, after which the visitors faced a score big enough to add pressure on a side needing a win to draw the series.
Yasir Shah
But then finally stepped up Younis Khan, with a double hundred good enough to match any innings that a Pakistani has played outside Asia. He was joined by centurion Asad Shafiq, quite possibly the future mainstay of Pakistani middle order, once Misbah and Younis call it a day. By the time Sarfraz was done with yet another quick 40 odd, Pakistan looked good for just over a 100-run lead - a la Edgbaston. But then Younis put up a master class of batting with the tail, stretching both his personal score and Pakistan’s lead to beyond 200.
And then, it was England’s turn to collapse. Yasir Shah’s second match-winning spell of the series took place against an England batting line-up seemingly unprepared for the third- and fourth-day wicket on the bounciest track on the tour. When it ended 2-2, it felt like a win. And for many, it was.
With the series Down Under early next year expected to be Misbah-ul-Haq’s farewell, it wouldn’t be surprising if he breaks yet another record by becoming the first Pakistani captain to lead his side to a series victory in Australia. It’s the first time in many years that Pakistan beating Australia in Australia doesn’t seem like a crazy idea. And it’s because an idea has been given birth at The Oval and could be a part of Pakistani cricket’s ethos long after Misbah has retired.
Younis Khan
It’s the insane idea that Pakistan can spend seven years without home cricket and yet beat the finest sides outside Asia on their own turf. The unthinkable idea that Pakistan can go a series without its frontline bowler performing or three-fourths without its batting mainstay showing up and still get a favourable result against the finest England side in ages. The outrageous idea that ‘predictably unpredictable’ Pakistan could become the number 1 Test side in the world.
Pakistan need results to go their way in the ongoing series in Sri Lanka and West Indies to rank number 1. But even if that doesn’t happen, the number 1 Test side in Pakistan’s history will still have a claim to being the world’s best.
Rankings don’t always reflect who the best in the world is. But Pakistan will still have many chances to top that order in the next seven months or so.
