Pak vs Eng 1st Test – Pakistan is a graveyard for Test bowlers – in numbers

Since March 2022, Pakistan has scored 14 totals of 400 or more in just 42 Test innings – the highest of any country in this period. The second most – 12 – came from England, but that's over 76 innings. While in England a total score of over 400 was achieved every 6.3 innings, in Pakistan this is the case every three innings.

During the same period, Pakistan teams have scored more than 500 runs seven times – also the most in any country. Of the over 600 total since March 2022, three arrived in Pakistan. Sri Lanka is the only other country where teams have scored more than 600 runs.

After the run-carnage in this Test, Multan has become the third venue in Pakistan – alongside Rawalpindi and Karachi – where bowlers average over 40. There are 28 venues around the world that have hosted two or more Tests as of March 2022, apart from the three in Pakistan, Trent Bridge is the only one where the bowlers have an average of 40+.

In the Multan Test, nine bowlers had to bowl more than 20 overs in the first innings. That's overtime considering most testing has recently been completed within four days. Since March 2022, an average of 8.5 bowlers in Pakistan have bowled 20 or more overs per Test. That's 1.6 more per test than in New Zealand, where this average is second highest.

Furthermore, bowlers in Pakistan often bowl 20 or more overs and also achieve low returns. As of March 2022, the global average for bowling average in innings of 20 or more overs is 36.17. In Pakistan, 64 of the 94 bowling innings have an average of less than 36 runs per wicket. That's a whopping two out of three spells. Australia performs second worst on this measure, with 57.41% of these long periods on average worse than the global average. However, periods of 20 or more overs are less common in Australia than in Pakistan.

Bowlers don't get a break even when the games are going on. Pakistan's collapse at the top level on the fourth day in Multan was more of an aberration than a norm in testing in the country. Since March 2022, bowlers in Tests in Pakistan have averaged 40.65 on day four (39.48 before this Test). This average is higher than any other matchday in the other countries, with the exception of the first day in Sri Lanka, where bowlers have averaged 42.02 since March 2022.

Pakistan's last win in a home Test came against South Africa in Rawalpindi more than three years ago when the bowlers averaged 27.83 in that game. The same venue a year later produced just 13 wickets at almost 89 runs apiece in the first Test of the Australian tour over five days. Since this game, Pakistan have not won at home in 11 Tests. In the end they should have got a few more than just the four draws out of eleven. But England's incredible innings win in Multan shows Test cricket has moved on. The teams play for results. Perhaps Pakistan's positions should move with the times.