Pakistan collapse to 133 all out against England in third Test

Pakistan slumped to 133 all out on the opening day of the third Test at Edgbaston on Wednesday after the latest in a series of woeful batting displays that have marred their tour of England.

Pakistan, already 2-0 down in the three-match series, banished seven players and sacked both head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and assistant Umar Gul after a heavy 194-run defeat in the second Test at Lord's.

They fielded three debutants among four changes to their side in Birmingham but the reshuffle, unsurprisingly, made little difference. The visitors made early inroads into England's batting, reducing them to 35-2 at tea but are facing an uphill task to force their way back into the game.

England captain Joe Root won the toss and chose to field in helpful, overcast conditions.

Ollie Robinson (R) smiles as he looks towards Pakistan's Azan Awais following a maiden over, on day one of the third Test match at Edgbaston cricket ground AFP

Pakistan's batsmen again had few answers to the new-ball pair of Ollie Robinson (3-15) and Jofra Archer (3-25).

Fellow paceman Josh Tongue then got in on the act with 4-42 as Pakistan were dismissed in just 33.5 overs — their shortest innings of the series.

Only Saud Shakeel, fresh from his 97 at Lord's, offered any resistance by a specialist batsman with 43 before tailender Mohammad Abbas was last man out for 21.

Saud Shakeel walks off after being dismissed on day one of the third Test match. AFP

Pakistan's latest slump started when recalled opener Saim Ayub was out for a duck, lbw to a typical Robinson nip-backer as the 32-year-old took his 100th Test wicket.

Azan Awais and Abdullah Shafique both fell cheaply and Pakistan were 26-4 inside 10 overs when the experienced Shan Masood holed out, tamely attempting to pull Archer.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam, without a Test century in nearly four years, was dismissed for just seven, clean bowled by an excellent Tongue delivery that jagged back off the seam. And Pakistan were 64-6 when wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori, one of the three Pakistan debutants, along with Mohammad Imran and Razaullah, was lbw to Tongue.

Pakistan, who have lost 15 of their past 20 Tests, were seven down before lunch when Tongue bowled Imran with a brilliant yorker that broke a stump.

Mohammad Imran looks to the stumps as the bails fly and he loses his wicket on day one of the third Test match at Edgbaston cricket ground in Birmingham on Wednesday. AFP

Razaullah fell shortly after lunch and Shakeel's impressive 47-ball innings, including seven fours, came to an end when he was bowled by a seaming Tongue delivery, with Pakistannow 107-9.

Abbas batted gamely before edging Archer to second slip. Mohammad Ali then had Duckett edging carelessly into the slip cordon before Jordan Cox was plumb lbw to Abbas.

That left Root, not for the first time in his long career, arriving with England in trouble at 24-2. But both Root and under-pressure opener Emilio Gay made it through to tea.

TEAMS

England: Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jordan Cox, Joe Root (capt), Harry Brook, Dan Lawrence, Jamie Smith (wkt), Gus Atkinson, Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue

Pakistan: Azan Awais, Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood, Babar Azam (capt), Saud Shakeel, Ghazi Ghori (wkt), Mohammad Imran Randhawa, Razaullah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Abbas

Umpires: Chris Gaffaney (NZL), Paul Reiffel (AUS)

TV umpire: Allahudien Paleker (RSA)

Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)

Agence France-Presse