The Pity of Pakistan

Broad and Trott skip on against Pakistan. Amir looks on in some pain. Photo: Clive Rose/Getty Images.

One ball. One wicket. That’s how far away Pakistan were from establishing a match-winning and series-squaring position at Lords. Now only god or, more probably, rain can save them.

When Stuart Broad joined Jonathan Trott at the crease on Friday England were reeling at 102-7. If any one of the next, oh, 180 deliveries had dismissed either batsman England might have been dismissed for no more than 200 runs and Pakistan would have enjoyed every chance of forcing another improbable victory and, in so doing, levelling the series. Such are the margins between success and failure in test match cricket. 

332 runs later Stuart Broad eventually fell but not before the record books had been rewritten and Pakistani spirits shattered. Broad’s innings was majestic and a coming-of-age moment; Trott’s an innings that began in dogged, defiant fashion before moving to a quiet, undemonstrative mastery of the Pakistan bowling.