England has shattered the record books by setting a new highest innings total against Pakistan, amassing a staggering 823 runs on the fourth day of the first Test in Multan. This historic feat is only the second instance in cricket history where a team has surpassed 700 runs in a Test match against Pakistan. The first occurrence was in 1958, when the West Indies scored 790 for 3.
This achievement is even more remarkable as it marks the first time in the 21st century that a team has crossed the 800-run threshold in a Test match. The last team to do so was Sri Lanka, posting an incredible 952 for 6 against India in 1997.
England now holds three of the four all-time 800-plus run innings in Test cricket, having previously scored 849 against the West Indies in 1930 and 903 against Australia in 1938.
In today’s innings, England declared at 823 for 7, driven by exceptional performances from Harry Brook and Joe Root. Brook dominated with a stunning 317, while Root’s brilliant 262 secured his place in history. Root surpassed Alastair Cook to become England’s all-time leading Test run-scorer, achieving the milestone of 20,000 international runs with a stylish boundary during the morning session.
Root had a fortunate escape when Babar Azam dropped a straightforward catch at mid-wicket while on 186. He went on to record his sixth double century, moving past Cook on England’s list of double century makers, with only Wally Hammond ahead of him.
The day also saw Brook reaching 250 with flair, bringing England fans to their feet with a beautifully executed boundary off Naseem Shah. The memorable partnership between Brook and Root has not only set new records but has also captivated the cricketing world with a truly historic performance.
