Archive · 10 Sep 2026
Atherton Blames Pakistan’s Dispirited Batting on Team Decisions
Pakistan’s cricket team had another very difficult batting performance against England.
They scored only 133 runs in the final Test innings.
They never reached 200 runs in any innings of the series.
Several important batters, including Babar Azam and Abdullah Shafique, were dismissed cheaply.
Michael Atherton said the team looked very low on confidence.
He believed sending seven players and two coaches home had hurt the team’s spirit.
Stuart Broad also said the players were working in a difficult environment.
One bright spot was young fast bowler Razaullah, who bowled quickly and troubled England’s batters.
Pakistan were dismissed for 133 in the final Test innings at Edgbaston.
They failed to score 200 in any innings during the series.
The top five collapsed to 24 for five, with Babar Azam and Abdullah Shafique struggling.
Michael Atherton linked the team’s low confidence to seven players and two coaches being sent home.
Young pacer Razaullah impressed with his pace, taking 2/42 and dismissing Joe Root.
- Who
- Pakistan and England, with criticism from former England captain Michael Atherton and comments from Stuart Broad and Nasser Hussain.
- What
- Pakistan were bowled out for 133 as their batting collapse continued in the final Test.
- When
- During the final Test and the series referenced in the articles; no exact date is provided.
- Where
- Edgbaston.
- Why
- Pakistan’s batting struggled amid low confidence, while Atherton attributed the dispirited performance partly to team-management decisions to send seven players and two coaches home.
- Pakistan’s score
- 133 all out in the final Test innings
- Series batting record
- Pakistan did not reach 200 runs in any innings
- Highest team total
- 194, in a chase of 389 runs
- Top-five collapse
- Pakistan’s top five were reduced to 24 for five
- Key bowlers
- Josh Tongue took four wickets, while Jofra Archer and Ollie Robinson took three each
- Razaullah’s figures
- 2/42 from nine overs
- Team changes
- Seven players and two coaches were sent home after the series loss