Watch:Incredible Moments When Joe Root Chooses to Bat Left-handed in the First Test Against Pakistan
Sophia Hammond
Updated on April 02, 2026
The pitch in the first Test between Pakistan and England is like nothing batters have ever seen.
As many as seven centuries have been scored on the pitch during the first three days of the contest, making it a batting paradise for both teams.
After a long winter, it's time to take a break and recharge ahead of the summer, but I believe in the future of this team š“ó §ó ¢ó „ó ®ó §ó æ
ā Joe Root (@root66) March 29, 2022
Batting right-handed is too easy for him
Perhaps dissatisfied with the situation or because ābatting right-handed is too easy for him,ā
As commentator Nasser Hussain put it, Englandās batting superstar Joe Root chose to bat left-handed for two deliveries.
He was fortunate to be bowled out by Naseem Shah at short midwicket in the 23rd over of their second innings.
England resumed batting on 146/3 on the fourth day, following a brief drink break.
When spinner Zahid Mahmood bowled his sixth over.
Root, a right-handed batter, switched stance to become a left-hander on the first pitch, went for a sweep, and the ball was a dot.
He went for a second sweep without bothering to change his stance for the next delivery, but Naseem failed to hold onto the catch, resulting in a single.
England declared their second innings with 264/7 in 35.5 overs after Root was eventually run out for 73 off 69 balls and Harry Brook scored 87.
As a result, Pakistan were given the goal of winning by 343 runs in the remaining three Test sessions.
Ben Stokes, captain of England, won the toss and chose to bat first.
In 101 overs, the tourists made 657 all out, with as many as four players scoring a century.
As Pakistan bowlers went on a wild leather hunt, Brook, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, and Ben Duckett were the champions.
Still canāt get my head around the news. He changed the game as a player but from my experiences a very kind and generous man who loved the game and always gave you his time and was great fun to be around.
Deepest Condolences to his friends and loved ones. We will all miss you.
ā Joe Root (@root66) March 5, 2022
Pakistan made 597 all out with Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, and Abdullah Shafique hitting centuries as the pitch remained calm.
The pitch has received a lot of criticism, with the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) describing it as āembarrassing.ā
It happened shortly after Root hit his half-century in the 23rd over of Englandās second innings.
Root became a left-handed batter against spinner Zahid Mahmood in the subsequent over.
In the first ball, he attempted a sweep shot at midwicket against a tossed-up delivery but failed to score.
Mahmood threw a similar ball to Root
Root hit the same shot, only this time it was airborne.
Naseem Shah positioned close to mid-wicket made a full-length plunge, yet was delayed to respond and subsequently simply figured out how to get the fingertips on it.
Root made it through and eventually scored 73 off 69 before being bowled out by the same bowler.
When discussing the match, Englandās debutant Will Jacks took all three of Pakistanās remaining wickets after Pakistan resumed play at 499-7.
However, the hostās tail-enders scored freely on the much-maligned flat Rawalpindi Stadium pitch.
During their heroic eighth-wicket stand of 57, the visitors were irritated by Agha Salman (53 runs) and Zahid Mahmood (17 runs) for nearly an hour.
Britain then, at that point, hustled away to 46 for two at lunch on the fourth day.
Root and Harry Brook (87), both with fifties, took England to 264 for seven at Tea after the break, giving Ben Stokesā team a 342-run lead.
