Rawalpindi pitch used in first Test between Pakistan and England rated ‘below average’

England and Pakistan faced off in the second Test that kicked off on December 9, Friday and it was the Ben Stokes-led who won the game on the back of a stupendous century from Harry Brook and fabulous spells from Mark Wood. While the second Test turned out to be a fighting one, the first one, rather was a high-scoring game.

However, despite runs flowing right throughout the game, the Three Lions managed to clinch a win by 74 runs. While a few opined that it was a great display from England, many criticised the pitch and said that it was nothing but a flat road. As things stand, the Cricket’s governing body has rated the pitch ‘below average’.

Andy Pycroft, from Cricket’s governing body’s elite panel of match referees, claimed that it was a pitch that offered no help to the bowlers and claimed that he found the pitch to be below average under the World body’s guidelines. Much to the surprise of the cricket fans, the first Test match saw over 1700 runs being scored over a span of five days. 

Rawalpindi pitch hardly deteriorated: Andy Pycroft

Notably, it was the second demerit point awarded to the venue as the pitch used for the Australia and Pakistan clash earlier in March was rated ‘below average’ as well. Eventually, there were 7 centurions in the match and many opined that the contest might as well end in a draw given that it took a lot of effort from the Three Lions to clinch the win. 

“It was a very flat pitch which gave almost no assistance to any type of bowler. That was the main reason why batters scored very fast and both sides posted huge totals. The pitch hardly deteriorated during the course of the match. Since there was very little in it for the bowlers, I found the pitch to be ‘below average’ as per the World body guidelines,” Pycroft was quoted as saying post rating the Rawalpindi pitch.