Was England's Test series defeat to Pakistan in Pakistan an upset?

[Savak]

They were 1-0 up in the series and Pakistan caught them completely off guard by producing two back to back slow turners out of no where.

England clearly didn't rate Pakistan's spin bowlers at all or they felt they could be easily bazballed and smashed around given that Pakistani pitches are roads or very slow slow turners.

Lets be honest, the conditions they encountered were nothing compared to the fast rank turners of India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. I was shocked at the complete inability of their batters to adjust and respect the opposition and conditions.

 

[gazza619]

It is indeed an upset.

Credit to Noman & Sajid. Having said that Pakistan could have easily lost this if our tail hadnt wagged in the 2nd innings.

There are still some spaces up for grabs:

-replacement for Abdullah Shafique & Shan Masood
-quality red ball pacers

 

[Bilal Ahmad15]

Definitely an upset

 

[mominsaigol]

It is 100% an upset.

However it doesn't change the fact that England got outplayed in the 2nd and 3rd test

 

[Hitman]

Upset? Maybe Yes! And that's keeping in minds how Pakistan were at home prior to that.

But then again, Pakistan earned the series win.

 

[aboveandbeyond]

Not at all. Bazz ball is a one trick pony tactic. Flat wickets. And it's kryptonite is spinning wickets. Therefore I dont see this as a upset

 

[Savak]

Not at all. Bazz ball is a one trick pony tactic. Flat wickets. And it's kryptonite is spinning wickets. Therefore I dont see this as a upset

The wickets we prepared were slow, low turners but they were not impossible to play. Wickets in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh offer much turn with pace and bounce from Day 1. The Pakistani pitches required a more patient grinding approach and playing the attacking shots at the right time when set. Graham Thorpe in his prime would have easily shown how to bat in these conditions.

England clearly didn't respect Pakistan and after scoring 823 in the first test, felt that the rest of the series was a formality. England in their persuit of Bazbal have forgotten the art of grinding and batting with technique when the conditions demand it.

 

[RexRex]

Eng are a pathetic one-dimensional team, they've zero ability to adapt to new conditions.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

After the first Test, it came as a surprise

 

[batandballbattle]

It was a shock considering the embarrassment of a Bangladesh whitewash in the lead up and the epic phainty of the first test

 

[JaDed]

Yeah somewhat cause it would had been a spanking had Babar and other shupastars played (whatever the pitch).

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Credit to Shan, Aaqib and everyone else who found a way to take 20 wickets. Shan had insisted on that throughout 0-6 that the bowling was the issue for Pakistan in Tests. Vindicated.

 

[Kianig89]

Definitely upset, bar Sajid and Nouman our attack is street cricket level

 

[oatmeal]

Not an upset. It was just a better game plan to win than in the first test.

 

[PakHammer]

Upset for sure. If Duckett did not mouth off in the second test, England may have got a series win.

 

[Buffet]

Surely it would have been a huge upset if entire series was on flat tracks.

I will still call it an upset but not really surpised to see Eng batting line up being harmless on turning tracks. They have been harmless in the last 5 years as soon as they face some tough away conditions to bat. I am calling it an upset despite turning tracks because most of us were thinking that Eng still has better batting/bowling for those conditions than Pakistan. That was proven wrong by Pakistani team so it's an upset.

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

Surely it would have been a huge upset if entire series was on flat tracks.

I will still call it an upset but not really surpised to see Eng batting line up being harmless on turning tracks. They have been harmless in the last 5 years as soon as they face some tough away conditions to bat. I am calling it an upset despite turning tracks because most of us were thinking that Eng still has better batting/bowling for those conditions than Pakistan. That was proven wrong by Pakistani team so it's an upset.

It was not really an upset pak got better players of spin and surely better spinners than england not sure what you are trying to say here pak would beat england 10 out of 10 times in a spinning pitch

 

[Savak]

Let's be honest, did anyone give Pakistan a chance considering our form leading up to the series?

 

[Buffet]

It was not really an upset pak got better players of spin and surely better spinners than england not sure what you are trying to say here pak would beat england 10 out of 10 times in a spinning pitch

NO, I will never say that Eng will beat Pakistan 10 out of 10 times on turning tracks. I will not say that even for super flat track.

I was saying many fans believed that Eng had a team to play well against Pakistan on turning tracks. I personally thought that they may have bowling but batting was just not good on turning tracks.

Way Pakistan was going previously, I would see it as an upset. I mean, Pakistan had not won single test in 3 years at home so winning 2 tests in the same series was not really an expected result. Pakistan was not even playing couple of full time spinners for a while. Mostly part timers were playing in all formats.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Say what you want.

It was Babar being booted out that made the difference.

As soon as he comes back, Pakistan will start losing again.

You can keep watching.

 

[sweep_shot]

I wouldn't call it an upset. Both Pakistan and England are mid-tier teams in Test.

 

[msb314]

Does the series triumph against England in 2024 rank as Pakistan's finest Test Series Win?
Title sums it up..

For reference a few other historic Test series wins in the last two decades include
- Pak vs NZ in 2002
- Pak vs England in 2005
- Pak vs India in 2006
- Pak vs England 2012
- Pak vs Australia 2014
- Pak vs WI 2017 (Away)

However, does beating England in 2024 triump then all considering we lost the first test, our overall form in 2023 /24 and generally the political and economic instability in the country?

Please discuss

 

[kron]

They were 1-0 up in the series and Pakistan caught them completely off guard by producing two back to back slow turners out of no where.

England clearly didn't rate Pakistan's spin bowlers at all or they felt they could be easily bazballed and smashed around given that Pakistani pitches are roads or very slow slow turners.

Lets be honest, the conditions they encountered were nothing compared to the fast rank turners of India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. I was shocked at the complete inability of their batters to adjust and respect the opposition and conditions.

I said ages back pakistan will win 2-1. No one believed me.

But pakistan is still a mediocre team outside pakistan.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

after watching sajid and noman bowl in 2nd and 3rd Test i wont say that it was an upset..

 

[mominsaigol]

Say what you want.

It was Babar being booted out that made the difference.

As soon as he comes back, Pakistan will start losing again.

You can keep watching.

Well obviously. His replacement hit a century on debut and that was one of the main reasons for winning the 2nd test. The bowling was fire but KG was the one who ensured a lead.

As for the 3rd test. Don't think Saud would get a 100 if Babar and company were ensuring wickets kept falling at the other end lol.

 

[ads101]

Probably an upset shouldn’t be, but we’ve been dire in tests since Misbah left.

I’d also take a win over England over winning against Bangladesh. Rather would have a positive than avoid a negative. So in that sense it’s actually worked out .

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

Not really, England is also a weak test team.

Pakistan is just a bit below them so can’t say it’s an upset.