It’s one thing to spend around 150 overs on the field, as both teams did in their first bowling innings. It’s another thing to spread them over three days and spend them chasing the ball while the opponent scores more than five runs per over: England scored 478 non-boundary runs in their first innings, compared to 276 in Pakistan.

“Here in the subcontinent there can be three supposedly boring days and then a game can quickly arise. That was always the plan: as soon as we were able to get forward and make them unruly on the field, it was always going to be difficult for us, even on that surface. We know how much it demands of you.

The partnership between Root and Zak Crawley in the final 18.4 overs of the second day was a crucial phase of the game – not least after Aamer Jamal’s spectacular catch that sent off Ollie Pope. It allowed Brook to restart his innings on day three and gave Ben Duckett’s thumb time to heal before he came out to bat at number 4.

“The way Ducky and Creeps (Crawley) go about their business is such a good influence in the locker room,” Brook said. “To see them go out there and put enormous pressure on their two best bowlers, Shaheen (Afridi) and Naseem (Shah)… it gives you comfort when you go out there and think that the pitch is probably better than it is .” “

Touring the subcontinent as an England cricketer in 2024 is no longer what it used to be: the team travels with its own chef and stays in a luxury hotel with an adjoining golf course. There is still a mental adjustment to be made from playing in front of a sell-out crowd at home to a bench full of empty stands this week, something England have achieved impressively quickly.

This win was a testament to the fitness of their players and their ability to adapt from the outset after coming from a wet, cold autumn at home to the sweltering heat of Multan. England insisted beforehand that three tough training sessions would be enough to acclimatize, and so they coped with the oppressive conditions far better than Pakistan.

Brook worked tirelessly on his fitness in the early months of this year as he missed England’s tour to India and the IPL to be with his grandmother on her deathbed. By his own admission, he wouldn’t have been able to play that inning without that effort: “If I hadn’t done that, I probably would have gotten to 150 and just thrown one in the air.”

None of the England seamers had previously played a Test match in Pakistan, but Woakes, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse comfortably beat Afridi and Naseem. Carse was particularly convincing on debut, bowling at high pace and finding some reverse swing: England passed James Anderson and Stuart Broad at impressive pace.

The Test match run has depreciated almost as quickly as the rupee in Pakistan, but even in the context of a high-profile game on a lifeless surface, England’s declared total of 823 for 7 was remarkable. There were seven sessions between them losing Pope in response to Pakistan’s 556 off his second ball and getting their winning moment on the final morning.

“You get confidence from your previous performances when you’re so far behind in the game,” Pope said. “We try not to think too much about the final result during the game, especially when we are behind… That has allowed us to have these performances and good wins in situations where we might not have done so in the past. “I crossed the border.

England’s series results under McCullum have been mixed: they have beaten teams they would expect, drawn against Australia and suffered a heavy defeat in India earlier this year. But it’s their style and approach that has made them such a compelling team to keep an eye on: when asked if this was his favorite Test victory, Pope replied that it was “definitely in the top three”. – and then named three more.

It’s not completely foolproof, and there are times when England’s tactical approach is overwhelmed. But they have now won 20 of their last 30 Tests – and there remains the heady feeling that the best is yet to come.