It always felt like a matter of when, rather than if, the pitch recycled from the first Test would play a part in the second.
Before it did, Pakistan must have been suffering deja vu from the first Test. On that occasion, they posted a strong 556, only to be pulverised by England’s Bazballers. When Duckett was going strong, sharing partnerships in excess of 50 with Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope and Root, history was repeating.
Sajid was one of four changes to the Pakistan XI and, even in the face of Duckett’s assault – England were scoring at five an over – Sajid carried the biggest threat.
And, late on the seventh day of cricket played on this pitch, the surface had its say. The ball for Root’s sweep may have kept a touch low, Duckett tried to drive out of the rough and Brook was unwise in trying to force against the spin. Stokes prodded like a man who has missed four Tests with a hamstring injury.
In the blink of an eye, England were floored. Dreams of a first-innings advantage turned into a grim battle for survival. From here, even getting to parity would be a remarkable effort.
Then there is also the thought of the conditions England might face in the fourth innings. Pakistan hold all the cards in their bid to level the series.
