NEW DELHI: The Multan pitch has become a hot topic during the first match of the ongoing Test series between Pakistan and England, with cricket legends Michael Vaughan and Kevin Pietersen lambasting the surface on social media.
After Pakistan opted to bat first on what appeared to be a lifeless wicket, both former cricketers took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their frustration.
Michael Vaughan, known for his blunt commentary, likened the pitch to a “road,” suggesting it offered nothing for the bowlers and heavily favoured the batsmen. “Looks like a road in Multan… Great toss to have won,” Vaughan posted on X, while humorously pointing out that Pakistan captain Shan Masood seemed so comfortable at the crease that he might as well have been wearing “padel shoes.”
“Looks like a road in Multan .. Great toss to have won .. also nice to see Shan Masood batting in what looks like Padel shoes,” wrote the former England skipper.
Kevin Pietersen echoed similar sentiments, dubbing the Multan pitch a “bowler’s graveyard.” He noted, “That wicket in Multan – bowlers GRAVEYARD!”
These comments underlined how difficult it has been for England’s bowlers to make an impact on Day 1.
Despite some disciplined spells, Pakistan piled up a solid score, with the top-order taking full advantage of the benign conditions. By the end of Day 1, Pakistan reached 328 for 4, with Abdullah Shafique and Shan Masood leading the charge.
Shafique anchored the innings with a well-crafted 102, while Masood contributed a brisk 151 off just 177 balls, keeping England’s bowlers at bay for much of the day.
Gus Atkinson, Jack Leach and Chris Woakes were the only bowlers able to break through the Pakistani lineup. Atkinson took two wickets, including the crucial dismissal of Shafique, while Leach managed to get Masood out, but not before the damage was done.
England’s bowlers struggled to find movement or bounce, and even Chris Woakes, known for his effectiveness in subcontinent conditions, could only claim one wicket, that of former Pakistan skipper Babar Azam.
The pitch has drawn further scrutiny because it appears to be offering no assistance to bowlers—whether seamers or spinners. Pakistan’s decision to bat first on such a surface seems like a masterstroke, putting England on the back foot from the very beginning.
