Pakistan collapse became one of the biggest cricket talking points of 9 September after England dismissed the tourists for only 133 on day one of the third Test at Edgbaston. Pakistan lost their entire innings in 33.5 overs, with captain Babar Azam making seven and England’s fast bowlers taking all ten wickets.
The Pakistan collapse was particularly damaging because this was already a must-improve match for the visitors. England entered the final Test with an unassailable 2-0 series lead after victories at Headingley and Lord’s. The immediate question was simple: why did Pakistan fall apart again despite making major changes before Edgbaston?
Pakistan Collapse: What Happened at Edgbaston?
England chose to field and immediately put Pakistan’s reconstructed batting order under pressure. Pakistan’s top five all failed to reach double figures. Shan Masood made six, Abdullah Shafique three and Babar Azam seven, while several of the newer players also struggled against England’s pace attack.
By the time Babar was dismissed, Pakistan were 48 for five. The Pakistan collapse continued despite Saud Shakeel attempting to rebuild the innings. Shakeel made 43, comfortably the best score in Pakistan’s first innings, while Mohammad Abbas added 21 lower down the order.
Those contributions were not enough to prevent Pakistan being dismissed for 133. The score itself tells only part of the story: England kept taking wickets before any partnership could become secure.
Why Was the Pakistan Collapse So Severe?
The most obvious factor was England’s fast bowling. Josh Tongue finished with 4-42, while Ollie Robinson took 3-15 and Jofra Archer claimed 3-25. Every Pakistan wicket fell to a pace bowler.
Tongue’s dismissal of Babar attracted particular attention. The Pakistan captain was bowled for seven, leaving his team in even deeper trouble during the first session. The Pakistan collapse was therefore not caused by one isolated dismissal. England repeatedly attacked the stumps and forced Pakistan’s batters to make decisions against movement and pace.
Pakistan also had very little opportunity to recover because wickets fell in clusters. A batter could settle briefly, but there was rarely enough support at the other end to turn survival into a meaningful partnership.
Pakistan Collapse Followed Major Selection Changes
The timing made the result even more significant. Pakistan had changed their squad heavily before the third Test as the team searched for a response after losing the first two matches.
Babar had urged his players to perform with greater freedom before the match. Instead, the Pakistan collapse meant the new-look side immediately found itself under pressure. That makes “why did Pakistan collapse against England?” a stronger search question than simply reporting the score.
The ICC Pakistan-England Test coverage provides background on the squad changes and the context surrounding the Edgbaston match.
Josh Tongue Was Central to the Pakistan Collapse
Tongue produced the best bowling figures of the innings. His four wickets included Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel, two of the batters Pakistan would have expected to provide stability.
Shakeel had at least given Pakistan a chance to move towards a more competitive total. Once Tongue removed him for 43, the possibility of a substantial recovery disappeared. The Pakistan collapse was completed when the innings ended at 133 after only 33.5 overs.
The Al Jazeera report on Pakistan’s 133 provides a contemporary breakdown of the innings and England’s bowling figures.
What Did Babar Azam Score?
Babar made seven. That dismissal mattered beyond the individual number because Pakistan were already struggling badly when their captain departed.
A captain cannot rescue every innings, but Pakistan needed experience after making significant squad changes. Instead, Babar became another early wicket in the Pakistan collapse.
Could Pakistan Still Recover in the Third Test?
A first-innings total of 133 left Pakistan with very little margin for error. England moved into their reply with the opportunity to establish a substantial first-innings advantage, having already dominated the first two Tests.
Test cricket can still change quickly if conditions remain favourable to seam bowling. Pakistan’s best route back into the contest was therefore clear: take early England wickets and prevent the hosts from building a decisive lead.
The Pakistan collapse did not automatically decide the Test, but it made Pakistan’s task considerably harder and increased the scrutiny on both selection and batting execution.
Why This Pakistan Collapse Matters
There is a bigger story behind 133. Pakistan entered Edgbaston trying to end a difficult series positively after heavy defeats in the opening matches. They also arrived with changes to personnel and intense scrutiny around the team.
The Pakistan collapse means those changes will now receive even more attention. Selection, batting technique, confidence and Pakistan’s ability to compete in English conditions are all legitimate questions after such a short innings.
What should not be done is inventing dressing-room explanations without evidence. The verified story is already strong enough: Pakistan changed their squad, entered the final Test 2-0 down, lost their top five cheaply and were bowled out for 133 by England’s pace attack. Read more latest news and sports updates on Agents Notout.
Conclusion
The Pakistan collapse at Edgbaston was built around repeated top-order failures and excellent England fast bowling. Josh Tongue led the attack with four wickets, Robinson and Archer took three each, and Saud Shakeel’s 43 was the only substantial resistance.
Pakistan now need a major bowling response if they are to stop England turning 133 into another dominant position.
FAQ
1. Why did Pakistan collapse for 133?
Pakistan lost regular early wickets against England’s pace attack, while their top five all failed to reach double figures.
2. How many runs did Babar Azam score?
Babar Azam was dismissed for seven during Pakistan’s first innings.
3. Who took the most wickets for England?
Josh Tongue took 4-42, the best figures of the Pakistan innings.