Thanks to Fazal, Javed, Imran and the rest
In our run-up to the 2000th Test, we look at some of Pakistan's more memorable Tests, from their first Test win to their biggest ever
Steven Lynch
20-Jun-2011
Fazal Mahmood: the star of Pakistan's maiden Test win and their first victory in England • Getty Images
v India, Lucknow, 1952-53
Pakistan had a chastening start in Test cricket, losing their first match by an innings, in Delhi... but bounced back to win their second, also by an innings. The great fast-medium bowler Fazal Mahmood took 12 wickets as India were bowled out for 106 and 182, while Nazar Mohammad (the father of Mudassar Nazar) carried his bat for 124, Pakistan's first Test century.
Pakistan had a chastening start in Test cricket, losing their first match by an innings, in Delhi... but bounced back to win their second, also by an innings. The great fast-medium bowler Fazal Mahmood took 12 wickets as India were bowled out for 106 and 182, while Nazar Mohammad (the father of Mudassar Nazar) carried his bat for 124, Pakistan's first Test century.
v England, The Oval, 1954
Pakistan squared the series on their first tour of England, pulling off an unlikely victory in the final Test despite making only 133 in their first innings. Thanks to Fazal Mahmood (6 for 53) and Mahmood Hussain (4 for 58), that was enough for a slender first-innings lead. At 82 for 8 in the second innings Pakistan's prospects looked bleak, but they recovered to 164. England still needed only 168 to win, and seemed set fair at 109 for 2 - and then Fazal got going again, scything through an inexperienced batting line-up to earn his side a memorable triumph.
Pakistan squared the series on their first tour of England, pulling off an unlikely victory in the final Test despite making only 133 in their first innings. Thanks to Fazal Mahmood (6 for 53) and Mahmood Hussain (4 for 58), that was enough for a slender first-innings lead. At 82 for 8 in the second innings Pakistan's prospects looked bleak, but they recovered to 164. England still needed only 168 to win, and seemed set fair at 109 for 2 - and then Fazal got going again, scything through an inexperienced batting line-up to earn his side a memorable triumph.
v Australia, Karachi, 1956-57
Pakistan beat Australia at the first time of asking, in a one-off Test on a matting pitch. Fazal Mahmood proved almost unplayable on the mat: he and Khan Mohammad bowled throughout Australia's first innings of 80, which lasted 53.1 overs. A century stand between Wazir Mohammad and captain Abdul Kardar set up a lead of 119, then Fazal collected seven more wickets to set up a nine-wicket victory.
Pakistan beat Australia at the first time of asking, in a one-off Test on a matting pitch. Fazal Mahmood proved almost unplayable on the mat: he and Khan Mohammad bowled throughout Australia's first innings of 80, which lasted 53.1 overs. A century stand between Wazir Mohammad and captain Abdul Kardar set up a lead of 119, then Fazal collected seven more wickets to set up a nine-wicket victory.
v West Indies, Bridgetown, 1957-58
When Pakistan slumped to 106 all out in response to West Indies' impressive 579, a quick finish looked on the cards. But Hanif Mohammad had other ideas, and anchored himself to the crease for 970 minutes (although he swears it was actually 999). Whichever figure is right, it saved the match for his country. Hanif made 337, and suffered for his art: he had several layers of skin burned off underneath his eyes by the harsh Caribbean sun, but was sustained by inspirational notes from his captain. This was a high-scoring series, which the home side eventually won 3-1: in the third Test, Garry Sobers made 365 not out as West Indies cantered to 790 for 3.
When Pakistan slumped to 106 all out in response to West Indies' impressive 579, a quick finish looked on the cards. But Hanif Mohammad had other ideas, and anchored himself to the crease for 970 minutes (although he swears it was actually 999). Whichever figure is right, it saved the match for his country. Hanif made 337, and suffered for his art: he had several layers of skin burned off underneath his eyes by the harsh Caribbean sun, but was sustained by inspirational notes from his captain. This was a high-scoring series, which the home side eventually won 3-1: in the third Test, Garry Sobers made 365 not out as West Indies cantered to 790 for 3.
v Australia, Sydney, 1976-77
This was the match in which Imran Khan came of age as a Test fast bowler, taking six wickets in each innings as Pakistan squared the short series. Wisden reported that "Imran's pace and aggression clearly unsettled" Australia's batsmen, adding that "both Lillee and Imran were warned by the umpires for bowling bouncers at unrecognised batsmen, and there was much bitterness, Marsh gesturing at Imran with his bat after a series of bouncers".
This was the match in which Imran Khan came of age as a Test fast bowler, taking six wickets in each innings as Pakistan squared the short series. Wisden reported that "Imran's pace and aggression clearly unsettled" Australia's batsmen, adding that "both Lillee and Imran were warned by the umpires for bowling bouncers at unrecognised batsmen, and there was much bitterness, Marsh gesturing at Imran with his bat after a series of bouncers".
v India, Hyderabad (Sind), 1982-83
Pakistan have rarely hit the heights they managed in 1982-83: after whitewashing Australia 3-0 at home, they recorded successive victories in a six-Test series against India by an innings and 86 runs, 10 wickets, and an innings and 119. This was the third of those drubbings, set up by Mudassar Nazar and Javed Miandad, who shared a stand of 451, which equalled the Test record at the time. Then it was over to Imran Khan and Sarfraz Nawaz, who shared 15 wickets as Pakistan cruised home.
Pakistan have rarely hit the heights they managed in 1982-83: after whitewashing Australia 3-0 at home, they recorded successive victories in a six-Test series against India by an innings and 86 runs, 10 wickets, and an innings and 119. This was the third of those drubbings, set up by Mudassar Nazar and Javed Miandad, who shared a stand of 451, which equalled the Test record at the time. Then it was over to Imran Khan and Sarfraz Nawaz, who shared 15 wickets as Pakistan cruised home.
v India, Bangalore, 1986-87
A close-fought series against India boiled down to the final innings of a low-scoring thriller in Bangalore. India needed 221, and while Sunil Gavaskar was there it looked as if they might just sneak over the line. But Gavaskar - playing what turned out to be his last Test - finally fell for a superb 96, as the workmanlike spinners Iqbal Qasim and Tauseef Ahmed made their way through the batting order.
A close-fought series against India boiled down to the final innings of a low-scoring thriller in Bangalore. India needed 221, and while Sunil Gavaskar was there it looked as if they might just sneak over the line. But Gavaskar - playing what turned out to be his last Test - finally fell for a superb 96, as the workmanlike spinners Iqbal Qasim and Tauseef Ahmed made their way through the batting order.
v West Indies, Georgetown, 1987-88
A century from Javed Miandad and 11 wickets from Imran Khan set up Pakistan's victory in this first Test of an engrossing series, a match also notable for the debut of a promising young fast bowler called Curtly Ambrose. In the second Test, Pakistan, chasing 372, hung on for the draw at 341 for 9, then West Indies squared the series with a narrow two-wicket victory in Bridgetown.
A century from Javed Miandad and 11 wickets from Imran Khan set up Pakistan's victory in this first Test of an engrossing series, a match also notable for the debut of a promising young fast bowler called Curtly Ambrose. In the second Test, Pakistan, chasing 372, hung on for the draw at 341 for 9, then West Indies squared the series with a narrow two-wicket victory in Bridgetown.
v England, Lord's, 1992
The teams who had contested the one-day World Cup final in Melbourne a few months earlier reconvened (minus the retired Imran Khan) for another thriller. Pakistan's heroes in the end were Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis - but the surprise was, it was their batting which proved crucial. Coming together with the pursuit of a modest 138 in disarray at 95 for 8, Wasim and Waqar put on 46 without being parted, clinching victory in the last possible over of the fourth day. England got back into the series with victory at Headingley, but Pakistan took the honours with a convincing victory at The Oval.
The teams who had contested the one-day World Cup final in Melbourne a few months earlier reconvened (minus the retired Imran Khan) for another thriller. Pakistan's heroes in the end were Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis - but the surprise was, it was their batting which proved crucial. Coming together with the pursuit of a modest 138 in disarray at 95 for 8, Wasim and Waqar put on 46 without being parted, clinching victory in the last possible over of the fourth day. England got back into the series with victory at Headingley, but Pakistan took the honours with a convincing victory at The Oval.
v New Zealand, Lahore, 2001-02
Victories don't come much more comprehensive than this: after Inzamam-ul-Haq's 329 lifted Pakistan to 643, a rather shell-shocked New Zealand were shot out for 73, with Shoaib Akhtar blitzing his way to 6 for 11. The tourists did a little better in the follow-on, reaching 246, but the margin of victory - an innings and 324 - remains Pakistan's largest (there have been only four heftier innings wins in all Tests).
Victories don't come much more comprehensive than this: after Inzamam-ul-Haq's 329 lifted Pakistan to 643, a rather shell-shocked New Zealand were shot out for 73, with Shoaib Akhtar blitzing his way to 6 for 11. The tourists did a little better in the follow-on, reaching 246, but the margin of victory - an innings and 324 - remains Pakistan's largest (there have been only four heftier innings wins in all Tests).
v Australia, Headingley, 2010
When the teams met on neutral territory in England in 2010, Pakistan had not beaten Australia in a Test for nearly15 years, and had lost their last 12 Tests against them. It was business as usual in the first Test at Lord's, but Pakistan bounced back from a 150-run defeat by bowling Australia out for 88 on the first day of the second match, at Headingley. They went on to complete a slightly nervy three-wicket victory, with Mohammad Amir - who had taken seven wickets in the match with the ball in helpful conditions - in at the end.
When the teams met on neutral territory in England in 2010, Pakistan had not beaten Australia in a Test for nearly15 years, and had lost their last 12 Tests against them. It was business as usual in the first Test at Lord's, but Pakistan bounced back from a 150-run defeat by bowling Australia out for 88 on the first day of the second match, at Headingley. They went on to complete a slightly nervy three-wicket victory, with Mohammad Amir - who had taken seven wickets in the match with the ball in helpful conditions - in at the end.
This is a selective list and not meant to be a comprehensive one of all the great Tests featuring Pakistan
Steven Lynch is the editor of the Wisden Guide to International Cricket 2011.