Ravichandran Ashwin predicts draw in PAK vs ENG 1st Test, sets single condition for a result

India ace Ravichandran Ashwin has shared his prediction for the ongoing first Pakistan vs England Test in Multan. The first three days of the Test have belonged entirely to the batsmen as bowlers from both sides have struggled to make an impact.

The bowlers have found very little support from the surface. On the very first day of the Test, former England captains Michael Vaughan and Kevin Pietersen had criticized the pitch, comparing it with a road. The pitch has neither offered good bounce or swing for the pacers nor spin for the spinners so far.

Batting first, Pakistan piled up a huge total of 556 runs in the first innings. Even though they lost the wicket of Saim Ayub for just 4, they quickly recovered and went on to finish day one on 328/4. Captain Shan Masood led his side from the very front, scoring 151 runs while Abdullah Shafique scored 102 runs.

On the second day, Agha Salman starred with the bat for the hosts, scoring an unbeaten 104 runs. Saud Shakeel also played a good knock of 82 runs. For England, left-arm spinner Jack Leach was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3 for 160.

Just like Pakistan, England are also looking destined to pile up a huge total. England also lost an early wicket as their captain Ollie Pope departed for a two-ball duck thanks to a sensational catch from Aamer Jamal. However, the Pakistan bowlers could not capitalize on the early breakthrough.

Ravichandran Ashwin's prediction for PAK vs ENG Test:

Opener Zak Crawley and Joe Root steadied the ship for England by sharing a 109-run stand for the second wicket. Shaheen Afridi broke the stand by dismissing Crawley for 78. It was followed by another big stand between Root and Ben Duckett as the duo added 113 runs for the third wicket.

Jamal gave Pakistan a much-needed breakthrough by dismissing Duckett for 84. The breakthrough, however, did not bring much respite for Pakistan as England recovered once again thanks to another big stand between Root and Harry Brook.

At the time of writing this report, England were on 383/3 with Root batting on 132 and Brook unbeaten on 78. With only 13 wickets falling on the first three days of the Test, a draw looks like the most probable result.

And while only time will tell how things unfold in the remaining two days of the Test, Ravichandran Ashwin has shared his prediction. Taking to X on Wednesday, the veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said that the Test will have a winner only if Pakistan come up with a poor batting display in the third innings.

"Now the only way this test will see a winner is if the 3rd batting innings is a poor one," wrote Ravichandran Ashwin.

Now the only way this test will see a winner is if the 3rd batting innings is a poor one. #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/Q1W1MlCE86

— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) October 9, 2024