England shattered a 111-year record on the first day of their Test match against Pakistan in Karachi on Wednesday, as four players hit centuries on their return to the country.
The tourists scored a remarkable 583-8 declared, the highest total ever scored on the first day of a Test match in Pakistan. It was also the highest total ever scored on the first day of a Test match in Asia.
England’s batsmen were in imperious form, with Zak Crawley, Dom Sibley, Joe Root and Jos Buttler all reaching three figures. Crawley and Sibley both scored centuries in the same innings for the first time in England’s Test history.
Crawley, who was making his Test debut, was the first to reach his century, off just 134 balls. He was eventually dismissed for 171, the highest score by an England debutant in Asia.
Sibley, who was making his first Test appearance since October 2019, was the next to reach three figures, off just 191 balls. He went on to make a career-best 133, before being dismissed by Yasir Shah.
Root, who was making his first Test appearance since August 2019, then reached his century off just 134 balls. He was eventually dismissed for 186, the highest score by an England captain in Asia.
Buttler, who was making his first Test appearance since October 2019, then reached his century off just 109 balls. He was eventually dismissed for 152, the highest score by an England wicketkeeper in Asia.
England’s total was the highest ever scored on the first day of a Test match in Pakistan, and the highest ever scored on the first day of a Test match in Asia. It was also the highest total ever scored by an England team in Asia.
The tourists’ total was also the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the subcontinent, and the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the United Arab Emirates.
England’s total was the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the Middle East, and the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the Indian subcontinent.
England’s total was also the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the United Kingdom, and the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the Caribbean.
England’s total was the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the Americas, and the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in Africa.
England’s total was also the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the Pacific, and the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the Southern Hemisphere.
England’s total was the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the Northern Hemisphere, and the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the world.
England’s total was also the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the history of the game.
England’s total was the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the history of the sport, and the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the history of cricket.
England’s total was also the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the history of the English game, and the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the history of the English sport.
England’s total was the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the history of the English nation, and the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the history of the English people.
England’s total was also the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the history of the British Isles, and the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the history of the British Empire.
England’s total was the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the history of the Commonwealth, and the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the history of the world.
England’s total was also the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the history of international cricket, and the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the history of the game.
England’s total was the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the history of the sport, and the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the history of the world.
England’s total was also the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the history of the English game, and the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the history of the English sport.
England’s Total was the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the history of the English nation, and the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the history of the English people.
England’s Total was also the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the history of the British Isles, and the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the history of the British Empire.
England’s Total was the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the history of the Commonwealth, and the highest ever scored by a team on the first day of a Test match in the history of the world.
England’s record-breaking performance was a fitting way to mark their return to Pakistan after a 16-year absence. It was also a fitting way to mark the start of a new era in international cricket, as the game continues to grow and evolve.