England vs Pakistan 2020, 1st Test, Day 1 – Twitter Reactions

Babar Azam’s artistry and Shan Masood’s doggedness and some poor bowling by England ensured that Pakistan got off to a brilliant start on a rain-curtailed first day of the three-match series in Manchester.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan captain Azhar Ali won the toss and unlike Jason Holder, he did not commit the cardinal mistake of deciding to bowl first.

On a cold, rainy day, Pakistan needed its openers in Abid Ali and Shan Masood to survive the initial burst by the English fast bowlers. Stuart Broad kept probing away, even as James Anderson wasn’t in the kind of rhythm which he was usually accustomed to from the great fast bowler.

Masood and Abid Adil saw off the first hour and the new-ball spell of James Anderson and Stuart Broad but as it looked like they were on course for a solid opening stand, England’s first change bowlers in Jofra Archer and Chris Woakes went bang, bang!

Firstly it was Archer, who shellacked Abid Ali’s stumps with a nip-backer before Chris Woakes joined the party by trapping skipper Azhar Ali LBW for a six-ball duck. This was Ali’s 8th single-digit score overseas since 2018.

Also Read- Watch: England Players’ Stunning Bin Challenge As Rain Plays Spoilsport In Manchester

Babar Azam sumptuous strokeplay and Shan Masood’s patience puts Pakistan in a good position against England

With Pakistan having squandered the initial advantage, it was left to Babar Azam to spearhead the ship, and boy oh boy, didn’t the 25-year-old did that disdain or what?

Azam saw off a tricky little spell before the lunch break but post the break, we saw the Pakistani talent in full flow. Anything that was bowled on his pads was flicked on the on-side, anything short was dispatched through the cover region courtesy delightful back-foot punches while anything full was either creamed through the covers with his trademark cover-drive or either driven straight past the bowler.

Since the start of 2018, Babar Azam has scored 1,427 Test runs at 67.95. Nobody in world cricket has scored more Test runs at a higher average than Babar at that time. And, the right-hander displayed today just why he is hailed so highly by one and all.

Babar’s counterattack in the post-lunch session helps Shan Masood go about his business in his usual way. The southpaw enjoyed a bit of luck as Jos Buttler dropped a sharp catch off the bowling Dom Bess and also missed a stumping later in the day. But his patience was really remarkable as he became the first overseas opener to face more than 100 balls in England since 2016.

Persistent rain and bad light meant only 49 overs were possible on the opening day with Pakistan comfortably placed at 2-139.

Also Read- Nasser Hussain Blasts English Bowlers For Going Horribly Wrong Against Pakistan Post-Lunch In The Ongoing Test

Here’s how Twitter reacted to the 1st day’s play between England and Pakistan-

Highest averages in Tests since start of 2018
(Min: 20 inns)

Babar Azam 6️⃣7️⃣⚬9️⃣5️⃣
Marnus Labuschagne 6️⃣3️⃣⚬4️⃣3️⃣
Steve Smith 5️⃣9️⃣⚬6️⃣6️⃣
Virat Kohli 5️⃣3️⃣⚬2️⃣9️⃣
Kane Williamson 5️⃣2️⃣⚬5️⃣8️⃣#CricketForAll | #ENGvPAK ?????????? pic.twitter.com/s2GBDdgZcK

— Cricingif (@_cricingif) August 5, 2020

Shan Masood is the first overseas opener to face over 100 balls in the first innings of a Test in England since the start of 2016 ?https://t.co/0jiSMocjIq | #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/BwSulmkVkh

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) August 5, 2020

On a positive note … @babarazam258 is certainly one of the best Test players in the World … love the way he plays … #ENGvPAK

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) August 5, 2020

Good batting in the middle session by Pakistan. Good defence & bit of luck has helped Shan get runs & get past last tours Anderson’s horrors whilst Babar has found fence hitting quite easy. A stylish 50 from him. A class talent on display!

— Ramiz Raja (@iramizraja) August 5, 2020

2 off spinners bowling … 2 Batsman on 50 ish each … and we go off for bad light … Test Cricket is bloody bonkers … #ENGvPAK

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) August 5, 2020

https://twitter.com/KhayamSays/status/1291052146897674240?s=19

Saying this again. The match would have not stopped if it was a pink-ball Test. There should be a provision to use pink balls in day Tests too when there is bad light and floodlights are on. Have the red ball back once light improves. #EngvPak

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) August 5, 2020

When is Test cricket going to change !!!!!! Conditions don’t need to be perfect …. Get on with it …. #ENGvPAK

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) August 5, 2020

There hasn't been a more attractive Pakistani batsman than Babar Azam since Mohammad Yousuf, and before him, Zaheer Abbas

— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) August 5, 2020

Babar Azam (111.16) is the only batsman with an average over 100 in ICC World Test Championship. #EngvPak

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) August 5, 2020

“There is nothing better than a Babar Azam cover drive..” apt by Nasser Hussain

— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) August 5, 2020

Babar Azam in the World Test Championship so far

Inns 9️⃣
Runs 6️⃣6️⃣7️⃣
50+ scores 7️⃣
Ave 1️⃣1️⃣1️⃣⚬1️⃣6️⃣

He is the only batsman with average in excess of 1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ in the competition ?#CricketForAll | #ENGvPAK ?????????? pic.twitter.com/r3NNdA92Yo

— Cricingif (@_cricingif) August 5, 2020

Babar Azam. The right contender to be in Fab Four #PakvsEng @babarazam258

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) August 5, 2020

102*, 60, 100*, 143, 52; Babar Azam has scored 50+ scores in 5 consecutive innings. 7th Pakistani to do so after Zaheer Abbas, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah ul Haq, Saeed Anwar, Inzamam ul Haq, and Sarfaraz Ahmed.

— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) August 5, 2020

Not a great day for Buttler – dropped a catch and missed a stumping of Masood. #ENGvPAK

— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) August 5, 2020

https://twitter.com/cover_drive18/status/1291012871149690880?s=19

Since the start of 2018, Babar Azam has scored 1,427 Test runs at 67.95.

Nobody in world cricket has scored more Test runs at a higher average than Babar in that time.#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/u6isJfCq2o

— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) August 5, 2020

Babar Azam's last eight Test innings:
104
97
8
102*
60
100*
143
52*

? Can he convert his start against England into his fifth century in six Tests?#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/mg91wNm495

— ICC (@ICC) August 5, 2020

comments of the day so far… always great to listen you naseer hussain. #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/XJT2RJGQ0V

— Muhammad Rehan (@DrRehansaeed) August 5, 2020

England cricket, headers challenge ??? #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/0ot1OeJfPr

— James (@Surreycricfan) August 5, 2020

#BabarAzam last 8 Test innings has 4 tons and 3 fifties( which also includes a 97) and just one score in single-digit! #PAKvENG #ENGvsPAK . pic.twitter.com/HbhUHX7SjI

— Vimal कुमार (@Vimalwa) August 5, 2020