Pakistan’s Flattest Test Pitches: A Graveyard for Bowlers
With the return of Test cricket to Pakistan in December 2019, the nation has developed some of the world’s flattest surfaces.
Pakistan has become a challenging place for bowlers, particularly in test cricket, with statistics indicating that it is the hardest country for bowlers to succeed in. Matches such as the one in Multan, where England amassed a record-breaking 823 runs in the first two innings alone, demonstrate this tendency.
Bowlers Struggle in Pakistan
Bowlers in Pakistan have been averaging around 40 runs per wicket since 2019. This is the worst bowling condition in the world; the second-worst is Sri Lanka, where bowlers average 34.25. Following Pakistan’s series against Australia in 2022, things deteriorated. Since then, bowlers have broadened Pakistan’s advantage over other nations by an average of 42.13 runs per wicket.
Record High Totals
Test matches that end with high scores are being played in Pakistan. Just 42 Test innings in Pakistan have seen 14 innings of 400 or more since March 2022. England comes in second in the globe, but over a somewhat longer period of 76 innings, this is the highest. In addition, throughout the same era, Pakistan has hosted more 500-plus and 600-plus innings than any other nation.
Multan Joins the List of Tough Venues
Multan became the third Pakistani venue (along with Rawalpindi and Karachi) where bowlers average over 40 runs per wicket following the run-heavy Multan Test, in which nine bowlers bowled over 20 overs apiece. Only four, including these three venues in Pakistan, out of 28 venues worldwide that have hosted two or more Test matches since March 2022, have bowlers with such poor records.
Long Spells for Little Reward
Bowlers in Pakistan frequently put in a lot of overtime with little reward. In 64 of the 94 innings since March 2022 in which bowlers bowled 20 overs or more, the average was less than 36 runs per wicket. Compared to any other country, including Australia, where 57.41% of such innings result in bad outcomes, this country has a far greater failure rate.
With extended bowling sessions, large scores becoming the norm, and flat pitches providing little help, Pakistan’s image as a Test bowler’s graveyard doesn’t seem to be disappearing.
