AFP
October 13, 2024
Australia pace legend Dennis Lillee denounced a pitch in Pakistan as a “graveyard for bowlers” in 1980, but more than 40 years later little has changed.
Lillee vented his anger after toiling for 21 wicketless overs in Faisalabad in a turgid draw.
All 11 Australian players, even wicketkeeper Rod Marsh, had a turn bowling in Pakistan’s second innings of 382-2 in reply to Australia’s 617 all out as the game petered out into near farce.
Last week, on a wicket described as “a road” by former captain Michael Vaughan, England rewrote the
record books as they
piled up 823-7 declared in reply to Pakistan’s 556 in the first Test in Multan.
The total was the fourth-highest single innings in Test history.
Harry Brook plundered 317 at almost a run a ball and Joe Root
became England’s highest Test run scorer during his career-best 262.
Their stand of 454 for the fourth wicket was an England record, the fourth-highest in history and the most by any pair playing overseas.
Despite the lifeless pitch, England’s bowlers
pulled off an inning and 47-run victory after the home side
crumbled to 220 all out in their second innings.
It gave Pakistan an unwanted record — the first team to score 500 or more and lose a Test by an innings.
England batting great Kevin Pietersen said on X that the lack of help for bowlers in Multan, where the second Test begins on Tuesday, was “helping destroy Test cricket.”