Whenever Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain mention Joe Root, they refer to him as England’s best touch batter. When they speak about Ben Stokes, they highlight his unique ability to change the game with his batting, bowling, and fielding.
And when they discuss Harry Brook, they describe him as a generational talent who, once he finds his rhythm, can dismantle any bowling attack in the world.
But, unfortunately, what we’ve seen in the current series against Pakistan reveals a troubling reality: England’s batters are not only struggling against the bowling attack but also seem to lack confidence, intent, and strategic planning. They appear baffled when facing bowlers who bring even a bit of experience and commitment to getting batters out.
Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, though competent, are not top-tier spinners, nor do they have extensive experience at this level. They hadn’t bowled in international cricket for two years in Pakistan, and yet, with Pakistan having only two spinners, England’s batters missed the opportunity to tire them out and score runs.
Consider how Ben Stokes was dismissed—he misjudged a left-arm spinner, leaving a ball that trapped him leg before wicket. Look at how Jamie Smith, Joe Root, and Ollie Pope were dismissed; these were not spectacular deliveries, but rather mistakes born from confusion and a lack of decisive action.
This mindset leaves England’s batting unit looking like a team trapped in a cave with no light, groping in the dark and eventually stumbling into defeat. The entire “Bazball” philosophy seems more like an illusion of energy without a solid foundation.
On flat pitches, any team can pile on runs, as even Zimbabwe has scored over 344 in a T20 game, just as England managed 800-plus runs in a test against Pakistan. But true batsmanship is revealed in challenging conditions, where resilience and technique matter most—and here, England has largely fallen short.
Apart from Joe Root, few English batters have consistent Test averages. Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Ben Duckett, and others touted as the next best English batters have averages that tell a different story.
It’s not a lack of talent, but rather the emphasis on a T20 style that is ill-suited for Test cricket. After winning the first Test match, England has now lost two consecutive matches—a significant blow, especially given that they won the toss and batted first in favorable conditions.
This is a confidence-draining defeat. England’s recent Test record shows they’ve only managed an away series win against Pakistan, which wasn’t under the best of circumstances for Pakistan.
Even bowlers like Shoaib Bashir, who primarily changes pace rather than using flight or topspin, are unprepared for international circuit. He just jogs in bowls quick under the bat, hoping the batter misses it.
Yet this reflects less on his skill and more on England’s struggle to adapt to testing bowling conditions.
Similarly, Jack Leach, who doesn’t naturally turn the ball, benefited from Pakistani batters’ errors rather than any true wicket-taking prowess.
This series should serve as a humbling experience for England. Either they must adapt to bat on challenging pitches, or they must accept that their success is limited by the pitch conditions.
Right now, their game lacks the resilience, strength, and adaptability needed to overcome these challenges, relying too much on favorable conditions to determine the outcome of a match.
