'He hurried Joe Root' - Nasser Hussain lauds debutant Razaullah's pace after impressive spell on Day 1 in 3rd Test
The 21-year-old Pakistani fast bowler impressed on debut with pace touching 92mph and a two-wicket haul in England's third Test at Edgbaston.
Pakistan's 21-year-old fast bowler Razaullah made an immediate impact on his Test debut during the third Test against England at Edgbaston on September 9, 2026. The right-armer from Mardan dismissed England batter Joe Root with his fourth delivery in Test cricket, finishing the day with figures of 2/42 from nine overs. His second wicket came when he dismissed Emilio Gay, establishing himself as a notable performer on a significant occasion for Pakistan cricket.
Razaullah's pace impressed observers throughout his opening spell. He touched 92mph in his opening two overs and did not dip below 89mph during his first over against Root, with the delivery clocked at 89mph (143km/h) reported as the fastest by a Pakistani bowler in the series.
Nasser Hussain, speaking on Sky Sports, highlighted the quality of Razaullah's performance and its impact on one of England's senior batters.
"Pakistan have been calling out for something different from their bowlers for a long while. It is nice to watch that spell from Razaullah that had something, that had a point of difference, had some pace. It hurried one of the greatest batters there has ever been in Joe Root, and got him out," the former England captain said.
Hussain's assessment of the debutant's performance
Razaullah was one of three Pakistan debutants in the third Test, part of a squad reshaped following the defeat at Lord's. Seven players were sent home after that loss, while head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were also removed from their positions. The young bowler's selection came despite not having a passport when Pakistan named him for the match, highlighting the urgency of the team's need for fresh bowling options.
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Pakistan were invited to bat first at Edgbaston by Root, and it resulted in the away team getting bundled for a paltry total of 133 runs. England responded strongly, reaching 156/4 by the end of Day 1 and establishing a 23-run lead. Razaullah's early breakthrough with the ball provided Pakistan with a moment of encouragement during a challenging day in the field.
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