Debutant Brydon Carse claimed “you couldn’t write that” after watching England captain Ollie Pope fall for a jaw-dropping catch after volunteering for the team as a makeshift opener in Multan.
England spent more than five sessions on the field and a grueling 149 overs as Pakistan piled on 556 in the first Test, but it was only a pair of brutal blows that rubbed salt into the wounds on either side of the transition.
Opener Ben Duckett finally took a slip catch to end the home side’s marathon innings, but in doing so suffered a painful thumb injury that strapped him to his pads and prevented him from opening England’s reply.
Pope raised his hand to claim the new ball in Duckett’s place but was left to curse his luck when Aamer Jamal took a stunning catch at midwicket to send him back for a two-ball duck.
amazing grab
“Unfortunately, you couldn’t write it down… a screaming one-handed catch,” said Carse, who had previously taken his first two Test wickets.
“That’s cricket. Sometimes it can be a great leveler.”
Pope’s dismissal capped a day of growing frustration for the tourists, who would have never lost Duckett’s services had a regulation opportunity not slipped through the fingers of Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson moments earlier.
Earlier they saw a decision overturned against Chris Woakes. His difficult boundary rope take was ruled out for faulty footing by third referee Chris Gaffaney.
Agha Salman was just 15 at the time of the marginal call but punished England to 104 not out.
I keep fighting
Carse insisted England were happy to suffer the bell for the greater good rather than wallow themselves.
“It was a great defense by Chris. At the time we all thought it was out, but it was probably one of those 50-50 chances that actually didn’t go our way,” he said.
“After that, everyone kept driving trucks. People feel good. We keep laughing, joking and trying to do our best in every session. The last two days have been incredibly difficult for everyone. It was a tough transplant and I was glad I made some choices. It was a rewarding feeling.
“I spoke to Woakesy and Gus Atkinson and both of those boys’ legs were hanging down. “I’m tired from the camp, but I’ll come back after a good rest,” he said.
England hope Duckett will be one of the players ready to get involved once again. Initial fears of a fracture were alleviated once the game was over, with no x-rays taken and it was understood a dislocation was expected. He is expected to take up a place in the mid-order once the joint deal is confirmed overnight.
England finished the second day on 1 for 96, with Zak Crawley hitting an unbeaten 64 off run-a-ball and Joe Root unbeaten on 32. He was just 39 runs short of breaking Sir Alastair Cook’s record as England’s highest Test run-scorer.
Squad member Olly Stone is due to return to England on Wednesday ahead of a wedding at the weekend and is not expected to be available for the second Test, which starts again in Multan next Tuesday. Carse’s Durham team-mate Matthew Potts is on hand to restart the overworked pace attack.
