Joe Root’s Double Century and Missed Catch Highlight Opening Test in Multan

Joe Root‘s double century against Pakistan at the Multan Cricket Stadium underscored his composure and proficiency under pressure, despite an early missed catch by Babar Azam. Root advanced his score from 176 to a milestone of 200, contributing significantly to England‘s formidable first-innings total with a disciplined innings off 305 balls, featuring 14 boundaries.

The incident that facilitated Root’s innings occurred early on the fourth day of the Test match. Root, while batting on 186, attempted a pull shot off a delivery from Pakistani pacer Naseem Shah. The ball reached Babar Azam at mid-wicket, who dropped what appeared to be a routine catch, allowing Root to capitalize on the reprieve.

Naseem Shah was visibly frustrated by the missed opportunity, as Root’s continued innings placed England in a strong position, closing their first innings at an impressive 658/3. Root, known for his patience and precision in batting, celebrated his innings by emotionally acknowledging the crowd and his team.

Root’s achievement drew comparisons with legendary cricketers like Ricky Ponting and Younis Khan, all known for their multiple Test double centuries. The milestone was not only a testament to Root’s skill but also highlighted the impact of Babar Azam’s missed chance, which was a turning point in the match.

Root’s success was complemented by an equally impressive double century by Harry Brook, which further extended England’s lead over Pakistan. The dropped catch by Babar led to widespread criticism from fans, who expressed their disappointment on social media, questioning Pakistan’s fielding standards and Babar Azam’s performance as captain, both in batting and on the field.

Babar Azam, despite being a premier batsman in limited-overs cricket, has faced challenges in Test cricket, averaging consecutive innings without significant scores. His dismissal after scoring 30 runs in the Test match added to his struggles in the longer format of the game.

As England dominated the session, Pakistan was left with a challenging task to salvage something from the Test. The mishap in the field highlighted broader concerns for the team, as noted by many of their supporters. Fans continue to hold Babar’s missed catch as a key moment impacting the outcome of the Test.