1st Test
Day-2 Morning Session Highlights:
Naseem Shah’s impenetrable defense has frustrated the English attack on the morning session of Day-2
At The Lunch of Day-2:
Pakistan scored 397/6 (1st Innings) vs England.
Gus Atkinson has five fielders stationed on the leg side, two of them in close catching positions—short leg and leg gully.
We are in the first over after drinks on the second day’s first morning in Multan, where the sun remains as unforgiving for the visitors as it was the previous day.
England has become known for frequently shuffling their field placements in an attempt to unsettle the batters.
Often, their setups appear unconventional, yet they’ve proven effective.
But today, it feels more like a product of frustration.
Naseem Shah, the nightwatchman, stands at the crease.
He had been promoted to number six late on day one after England had dismissed Babar Azam with the new ball, just as daylight faded.
Shah defends a short-pitched delivery, dropping it near his toes, dismissing England’s latest tactics.
Asking a bowler to protect the other batters in such a precarious situation is a bold, almost unreasonable demand.
What are the batters expected to do if they need protection from the very challenge they have been preparing for their entire careers?
Yet, Shah executes the task with precision.
He has the skills for it—skills that were honed in his youth while playing one-bounce cricket with his younger brothers in the cramped spaces of their house.
His famed impenetrable defense was showcased in Sri Lanka during the 2022-23 series, where he batted for 131 and 175 minutes while Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel built huge scores.
After the painful whitewash suffered in England’s last tour of Pakistan in December 2022, Shah had saved Pakistan from complete embarrassment by stretching the final-wicket partnership with Abrar Ahmed until the close of the Test.
So, on Monday, Pakistan could not have asked for anyone more reliable than Naseem Shah to shield Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha—two of their most consistent performers over the past two years—from England’s relentless pace attack.
He defended—again and again.
Many times, he stretched his front leg forward, positioning himself perfectly to meet the ball, or awkwardly ducked under the short-pitched deliveries.
When Chris Woakes tried to bring his leading edge into play, Shah was sharp enough to deal only with those deliveries that threatened his off-stump.
Every ball he defended was followed by a calm “no run.”
When Ben Duckett, guarding short leg, attempted to engage him in conversation, Shah responded, showing his composure.
When England resorted to short-ball tactics, Shah remained resolute, absorbing hits on his helmet and hand, but never flinching, never giving the bowlers an opening to exploit.
Then, he struck back.
A few deliveries after being hit on the head, Shah danced down the pitch and launched Shoaib Bashir for a massive six over long-on.
He then dispatched Jack Leach, England’s most experienced spinner, for two huge maximums down the ground—much to England’s dismay.
While all eyes were on Shah, Shakeel built a crucial half-century after struggling with scores of 0, 16, and 2 against Bangladesh.
He was eventually dismissed by Brydon Carse, caught down the leg side, but by then, Shah had notched his career-best international score (33).
Shah was sent in to protect Pakistan from losing any more wickets on day one, but over the course of his 81-ball stay, he achieved much more.
He neutralized the threat of the new Kookaburra ball, wore down England’s pacers, and forced the tourists to toil under the searing Multan sun.
Pakistan stood at 388 before Lunch when he finally departed.
Now, the responsibility falls to Pakistan’s lower-middle order to capitalize on the foundation he has laid on day two.
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