In the 250-year history of first-class cricket, no side has ever lost after putting as many as 657 runs on the board in the first innings. But England go into the final day of the opening Test in Rawalpindi not caring whether they set yet another record, Ben Stokes prepared to risk defeat against Pakistan in pursuit of what would be a famous victory.
It follows a fourth day that summed up the mentality shift since Rob Key played matchmaker and paired Stokes with Brendon McCullum. Not only did England produce another trolley dash for runs, when Harry Brook’s latest tilt at becoming England’s fastest centurion ended on 87 from 65 balls, Stokes declared at tea to set Pakistan 343 to win in four sessions on a pitch making this eminently possible.
