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Rawalpindi Test pitch: Michael Vaughan makes contrasting statement after Pakistani batters’ resistance

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Rawalpindi Test pitch, Michael Vaughan

Michael Vaughan, the former captain of the England cricket team, has shown duality as he was seen showering praises on English batsmen for scoring a huge target in the first innings of the Rawalpindi Test, however, the Pakistani batters’ resistance made him think about the quality of the Rawalpindi pitch.

After watching the Pakistani openers’ strong partnership, Michael Vaughan wrote on Twitter.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the curators of the stadium are facing severe criticism for making an unsuitable wicket for bowling in the Rawalpindi Test. PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja has also admitted his failure to prepare a lifeless wicket for the Rawalpindi Test.

Raja told BBC Test Match Special, “I have really not cracked the code regarding a Test match pitch, unfortunately. Absolutely [disappointed with this pitch]. The reason why I am stressing on drop-in pitches in Pakistan is because you will go to Multan and Karachi, you will get a similar flavor. We don’t get bounce, it’s to do with clay, how we prepare a pitch.”

“I don’t what is happening, T20s and ODI, we are fine and pitches don’t come under that kind of scrutiny. But we’re still years away from preparing a great five-day pitch,” he added.

Earlier, resuming at 506-4, England added 151 runs in 125 minutes in the extended two-and-a-half-hour session, with Harry Brook taking his overnight score of 101 to 153 — one of four centurions in the innings. Skipper Ben Stokes (41), debutant Liam Livingstone (nine) and Brook were all dismissed by pacer Naseem Shah, who finished with 3-140.

Leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood conceded 235 for his four wickets — the most by a bowler on a Test debut. Previously, Sri Lankan off-spinner Suraj Randiv conceded 222 against India in Colombo in 2010.

England´s total is their highest against Pakistan in all Tests, improving on their 589-9 at Manchester in 2016.

On Thursday England became the first team to score 500 runs on the opening day of a Test match, bettering Australia´s 112-year-old record of 494-6 against South Africa in Sydney. Zak Crawley (122), Ollie Pope (108) and Ben Duckett (107) were the other centurions in the innings.

In reply, Pakistan have also crossed the 100-run mark without losing a wicket in the first innings. The three-match Test series is England´s first in Pakistan for 17 years.

However, Vaughan has surprised many fans for showing duality. He was seen celebrating over English batters’ play in the first inning.

However, yesterday the Pakistani batsmen made 181 runs without any loss, then the former English captain started to see the defect in the wicket. Michael Vaughan wrote in his tweet yesterday that “surprising pitch for Test cricket”.

Cricket fans took on Vaughan over his duality. Some of the reactions are as follows:

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