The pre-series arc lights went to Babar Azam, and they refused to leave him on the first day of the opening test at Old Trafford. The graceful hitter scored a masterful half-century undefeated, in the process taking tourists 139/2 before the poor light deprived him of the glare of the full day.
Until then, it was high definition hitting.
There were several moments worth detailing. But this one stands out. Just before the rain interruption, Azam lost the goalkeeper to Jofra Archer in the dim light. He was already engaged on the front foot, as he usually does, and the ball was screaming at his ribs at high speed. But Azam restrained his wits, pirouetted sideways, stepped out of line for the rising ball, and slid (rather than pulled) past the thin leg for a brace with a twist of the wrists. And it made all these complicated movements look elegant. You have that advantage of extra seconds to get out of trouble, to rectify those rare imperfections in judgment in an instant.
He also had time to showcase a variety of luscious scenes, mixing style and grace. If a back foot strike from James Anderson wasn’t dreamy enough, it majestically placed Archer past the point of setback, drove him and Stuart Broad directly before subjecting Dom Bess to the kind of contempt that subcontinental hitters reserve. for the backcountry. He gave the impetus to Pakistan, before beginning to complete its half-century in 70 installments.
The moment Pakistan made a bold move to hit first, the buzz took hold of Azam. Striding out at a distressing time for Pakistan, as its patron Azhar Ali fell for a duck, the stakes were high in Azam.
He started nervously, nearly preventing a couple of vicious intruders from hitting his pads. He made a mistake on two other car trips, was beaten and checked, his hands were stiff and his feet were frozen. And then just like that, he unraveled and sealed his quality on the bowlers of England.
If Azam marveled at dazzling strokes, Shan Masood impressed with meticulous craftsmanship. The helpless figure he adopted during the previous tour from Pakistan to England seemed like a fading memory, as he subdued his tormentor James Anderson with resounding assurance. England’s talisman had caught him six times in as many duels, but this time the first match repelled him with a resolute application and tight technique.
Noticeable were the changes in his technique. He has opened up his stance, which has expanded his offside game and made his batting pace smoother and straighter. It is more still in the crease so you are not caught in motion and it allows you to play the ball as late as possible. Equally endearing were his mental gifts, poise, judgment, and discipline necessary to endure the unforgiving climates of England and its punishing bowlers.
The discretion of the stump was impeccable, as was the precision of his foot movement. Later, when the glow was gone, he took out a handful of nice punches. Like a touch from Stuart Broad, in which he just stood upright, rode the rebound and sent it past the point back. Like a random Archer move. He also benefited from Jos Buttler’s fallible glove work, as the England keeper unloaded a catch and a blow to the unfortunate Dom Bess.
Thus ended a day in which Pakistan reinforced that they had come properly prepared and that they would not be intimidated by the battery of bowlers from England. And for once, England’s four-point attack failed to take over the game. Babar took control.
Brief scores: Pakistan: 139/2 (Babar Azam 69 not out, Shan Masood 46 not out, Jofra Archer 1/23; Chris Woakes 1/14) vs England on Day 1.
She is a freelance blogger, writer, and speaker, and writes for various entertainment magazines.