Former Pakistan captain Urooj Mumtaz lauded youngster Razaullah and said he wrote the “perfect chapter” to revive his reeling side after his sensational 81 off 63 balls against England on day three at Edgbaston.
Razaullah, who has only played eight previous first-class matches in his career, smacked nine sixes in his remarkable innings, equalling Tim Southee’s record for the most maximums for a Test debutant, dazzling in a 121-run partnership with Mohammad Abbas (42) that eventually propelled Pakistan to a total of 449 and set England a target of 130.
The 21-year-old consolidated an already impressive performance on debut with the ball, taking four wickets in England’s innings, including that of skipper Joe Root for his first.
His performance with the bat was undoubtedly the deciding factor in forcing the match into a fourth day that looked so improbable when he arrived at the crease, when Pakistan trailed by two runs at 318-8.
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“His innings was simply sensational,” Mumtaz said on Sky Sports. “A perfectly written first chapter of his Test career. All that passion, the flair of Pakistan cricket!
“One 21-year-old who wasn’t even on the list gets on the plane and gets his baggy green. Then Joe Root is his first Test wicket, he takes a four-fer on debut, and makes 81, with nine sixes.
“All of Edgbaston and all of Pakistan were on their feet!”
‘Razaullah showed the beauty of Pakistan’s raw talent’
Razaullah equalled Tim Southee’s record for most sixes on Test debut with nine
Mumtaz praised the spirit that Razaullah embodied, especially in the face of an off-field crisis that saw seven changes to the tourists’ squad and a head coach axed ahead of the third Test after two heavy losses to begin the series.
“He showed the beauty of Pakistan and their raw talent – even he doesn’t know what he’s capable of!
“He’s come off the plane and has absolutely no baggage. Yes he has a first-class hundred in dramatic fashion, but his hand speed is so quick he is ripping through the ball.
“He sits so deep in the crease and barely any of his boundaries are mishits – all of his sixes were monsters.
“That’s the spark, the energy, the exuberance of youth that you are looking for.
“There was a smile on his face and he was not overwhelmed by the occasion. He didn’t look in awe of it – he almost looked like he believed.”
Razaullah: I just had to bat – you got to enjoy it!
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Pakistan debutant Razaullah, using Urooj Mumtaz’ translations after speaking to Sky Sports in Urdu:
“I just had to bat, you are the ones who get to enjoy it!
“I was planning to take it longer and deeper – 81 runs is not bad though!
“The ball was in my slot – I was eyeing that up and trying to provide support for the other batters and trying to take it as deep as possible – I broke both my bats and wore down my third.
“There was no point at which I didn’t enjoy it or when I was scared.
“I was wanting the strike, and overall I wanted to keep the strike as long as possible to get Pakistan another day.”
Do Pakistan have any chance?
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Mumtaz praised the role of fellow tail-ender Abbas – who notched his highest-ever Test score – in the partnership, and refused to rule out a miraculous comeback for Pakistan:
“A perfect script.
“To put one youngster in to bat with one stalwart of the game in Mohammed Abbas who is now on the honours board at Lord’s after an eight-year gap between fifers,” Mumtaz added.
“Abbas said ‘I’m not just a seam bowler – I’m going to hit a few down the ground,’ and he did!
“It all just amalgamates to show what could have happened if Pakistan had the temperament, the flair and the technique to back it up for the twelve-odd days of cricket we’ve had.
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“If anyone is a betting person, after what’s happened today, it’s almost like that dimming light has been ignited again.
“You never know [what will happen]. Razaullah had a four-fer on debut [in England’s first innings], and he provides a point of difference with pace.
“They’ll have to believe – there will have to be words of wisdom – and also know that there’s not too much to be said.
“They can leave it at that, watch some tapes and come back tomorrow with hope.”
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