Key events
Save the date: 21 November 2025
Kamran Ghulam’s terrific hundred was only the sixth by a No4 batsman on Test debut. That’s fewer than any other position in the top eight. It sounds weird but it actually makes sense. As Yas Rana pointed out on the Wisden Patreon podcast, No4 is such a pivotal position that it usually goes to the most established player, not the least.
There’s no such thing as a bad debut century but the context made this especially good.
“Yesterday’s chat about AI and robot cricketers reminded me of this gem by the great Harry Pearson,” writes Paul Lakin.
This is hilarious, thanks for sending it in. I don’t remember reading it at the time. Sad to think that a piece like this probably wouldn’t be commissioned these days.
The first email of the day comes from Zain Malik
Walking in at 19 for 2 within the first ten overs is pressure enough. Coming in at the behest of a many-headed monster, mid-series at arguably the worst state the team has ever experienced since Lord’s 2010, stepping in as the stand-in for Pakistan’s biggest star since Shahid Afridi on a pitch cursed to spin like it’s been conjured by a sorcerer? And then becoming just the 12th Pakistani to score a century on debut? Yeah, that’s no casual stroll in the park. Sure, it’s not Harry Brook’s 300, but for a nation on the verge of losing faith in their beloved team, Kamran Ghulam walked in and wrote his name in bold.
With every shot he sent back at Leach, it was like he was whispering, “Babar who?” But Ghulam’s century says something more: Pakistan’s domestic circuit still produces world-class talent. The trouble only starts when the players become bigger than the system. And let’s be real an authoritarian board scrambling to fix a broken team mid-series by throwing around big names? Classic PCT.
But hey, it’s another day in Multan. Now, it’s up to Rizzy and Agha. And Agha, sitting at No7, has quietly turned into the anchor of Pakistan’s depth. In 15 Tests, he’s racked up over a thousand runs with three hundreds and eight fifties, at a cool average over 47. A No7 with a 45+ average and legit bowling skills? That’s an all-rounder who deserves way more hype. He’s probably eyeing another century, just to keep things interesting.
As Ramiz Raja put it at Lord’s in 2010, after Pakistan had come from 2-0 down to square the ODI series, a month after the spot-fixing scandal on the same ground: “Out of chaos, brilliance. Only Pakistan…” I can’t think of a team, in any sport, whose incompetence is less trustworthy.
Simon Burnton’s day one report
On this pitch, selected and prepared specifically to assist spinners, England bowled 15 consecutive overs of seam, took two wickets and conceded only 40 runs, even though for most of that time half a dozen fielders were spread in an intimidating parabola around the batter, leaving wide expanses of empty grass behind them.
Preamble
Morning darling. One of cricket’s charms – although some might use a less complimentary word – of cricket is that you can watch for six hours and still not know who’s winning. That was the case on a quietly compelling first/sixth day in Multan, which ended with Pakistan on 259 for 5.
Pakistan have put all their chips on spin bowling, yet it was England’s quicks who were the most threatening and economical. This used pitch will surely go rogue at some stage, so England’s first innings could decide the match. In short, this is a big day. By the end, we might even know who’s winning.