The English bowlers were supposed to have Saturday off. Instead, they faced Razaullah, and Birmingham gained a fresh cricket sensation.
The young Pakistani player made his Test debut at number nine, scoring 81 off 63 balls, and smashed nine sixes during a two-hour spell that altered the course of the third Test at Edgbaston. His innings followed Pakistan’s collapse to 133 on day one, and it lifted the spirits of Pakistan supporters everywhere. A new hero, a new hope.
The Debutant’s Numbers
Razaullah is 21 years old and has played just eight first-class matches. He was picked as a fast bowler, a tearaway in the mould of Waqar Younis, not as a batter. England’s bowlers probably did not know his name before he walked out to bat at Edgbaston.
During his innings, he broke two bats and had to use three separate bats while batting. His nine sixes tie a record in English Test history: it is the joint-most ever in a Test innings in England. That mark also belongs to Ben Stokes, who hit nine sixes in his famous 155 against Australia in the Ashes Test of 2023.
Razaullah hit as many sixes as Sir Geoffrey Boycott did in his entire 108-Test career.
Key Facts Box
- Razaullah: 81 off 63 balls, 9 sixes
- Ben Stokes record: 9 sixes, 155 vs Australia, Ashes Test 2023
- Sir Geoffrey Boycott: 9 sixes across 108 Tests
- Shan Masood: 95
- Babar Azam: 76 (not out)
- England need 130 to win; Pakistan need to defend 129
Ramiz Raja on BBC Test Match Special
Ramiz Raja, who used to captain Pakistan, witnessed the innings and spoke highly of the boldness shown.
“It’s the first time he’s been out there for Pakistan ever, and he absolutely lights up the show,” Raja said. “This is the attitude that was needed. Someone with a strong body language and who believes in himself. They’ll want him playing all formats because he’s a natural in mind, body language and attitude. It was a tremendous fightback.”
The England Captain’s Reaction
The England captain Joe Root kept an eye on Razaullah, who was batting at the opposite end. Once, he placed eight fielders around the boundary, yet nothing could stop the young batter.
The document states that “He ended up needing to use three different bats at the crease after breaking two with his explosive hitting,”. It adds that “Root wore the expression of a chess player waiting for someone to tell him it was his move.”.
The manner of Razaullah’s exit was equally dramatic. After being reprieved lbw to Dan Lawrence, he danced down the pitch before being stumped the very next ball. It was a young Pakistani who departed to the warmest ovation from the crowd.
The Rest of the Pakistan Line-Up
Shan Masood played with admirable application, making 95. Captain Babar Azam, a weight lifted off his shoulders, made 76.
The man who captured the imagination was Razaullah. A former England captain named Michael Vaughan observed the innings and delivered his opinion.
“England are going to win this Test match, I’m sure,” Vaughan said. “But Razaullah has given Pakistan cricket some hope. They’ve unearthed a gem and he will be a superstar for many years.”
The Road to Edgbaston
Razaullah may have played for Cleethorpes during the Yorkshire Cricket Southern Premier League campaign. After joining for just the 2026 season, he was summoned into a national training camp in May.
On day one in Birmingham, when Pakistan offered a meek surrender, it seemed to those with tickets for Saturday that seeing any play at all would be unlikely. Just after lunch, they were steamrolled for 133, and looked rudderless against opponents who were ruthless.
No doubt a great number of punters began to make alternative arrangements on the assumption that it would all come to an end quickly, particularly once England had piled up 453.
The Chase Stays Alive
There is still 129 left to defend, which gives Pakistan an outside chance at what would be the most famous victory of all. One might be inclined to view Pakistan cricket through a particular lens, but when moments such as these arise, it becomes impossible to resist.
Three days brought a full turn from despair to hope, another passage through the same old range of feeling.
“There wouldn’t be any person in the world that would’ve thought we’d go to day four,” Vaughan added. “That is what Pakistan cricket is. They have had a difficult few weeks. The team has been in turmoil. That is why I love Pakistan cricket.”
A great many of the methods used by England will be looked back on with regret. The brief deliveries, one over of spin, the second new ball handed to the spinner. That day will show the English side that there is still much work ahead before they reach the highest level.
What Happens Next
Day four of The Test returns to Edgbaston, where England must score 130 runs to claim victory. For Pakistan, the task is to hold their ground against a target of 129.
Pakistan faced long odds from the very start of day one. Those same odds persist, yet the team has managed to put itself in a position where it can compete with England.
He called himself Pakistan thrive in chaos, and he made that case with a raw, aggressive innings that will be remembered for years. The world will watch to see if he can repeat it.
Razaullah made 81 off 63 balls with 9 sixes on his Test debut, tying Ben Stokes’ record for most sixes in an innings by an English player. He also hit as many sixes as Sir Geoffrey Boycott managed across his entire career in just 108 Tests. Shan Masood was dismissed for 95, while Babar Azam remains not out at 76. England need 130 to win the match, with Pakistan needing to defend 129.
What to Watch For Day Four
1. Whether Razaullah’s form carries over into bowling
2. How England react to the short-stuff strategy that failed
3. Whether Pakistan chase down the target
4. The mood in the dressing room after a wild three days