England skipper hails ‘special’ win in Pakistan

England captain Ben Stokes

RAWALPINDI, AFP: Skipper Ben Stokes hailed England’s nail-biting victory in the first Test against Pakistan Monday as “one of the best” of his career ─ particularly given the state of the lifeless Rawalpindi pitch.

With just minutes to spare in dying light after five days of enthralling cricket, England finally halted a heroic last stand by Pakistan’s tail-enders to win the first Test by 74 runs.

It was only the third time England have won a Test in Pakistan, although they haven’t visited since 2005 because of security issues.

“To be able to get a result on this type of wicket is mind-blowing,” Stokes said ahead of the second Test starting in Multan on Friday.

“I think it’s probably one of the best. The effort that everyone has managed to put in this whole week is just incredible.” 

England have “Bazball” to thank for their victory ─ the free-wheeling brand of cricket coined from the nickname of new head coach Brendon “Baz” McCullum, a New Zealander.

McCullum was an aggressive batter in his playing days ─ he holds the record for the fastest individual Test century ─ and under him, and skipper Stokes, the English have brought one-day cricket to the five-day game.

Records tumbled in Rawalpindi with England becoming the only team in history to score 500 runs on the first day of a Test ─ courtesy of four individual centuries, another record.

Overall, some 1,768 runs were scored in the match ─ the third-highest aggregate since Test cricket began.