'Pakistan a poor side': Former England great delivers blunt verdict

Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad has delivered a blunt verdict on Pakistan, describing them as a “poor side” and backing England to complete a 3-0 clean sweep in the three-Test series.

Speaking on The Love for Cricket Podcast, Broad was critical of Pakistan’s current Test team and suggested England should be expected to dominate the series.

“They are a poor side, they are not a really good side. You would imagine and you’d think that England should win 3-0. And pretty comfortably,” Broad said.

The former England pacer, however, acknowledged that a clean sweep cannot be taken for granted. He added that failing to win the series would represent a major disappointment for the hosts.

“But that isn’t guaranteed. But if England don’t come out with a Test match series win, it really is a huge failure,” Broad said.

His comments came after Pakistan endured a difficult opening two days in the first Test at Headingley in Leeds. Pakistan were bowled out for just 171 on the opening day, with England’s bowlers exposing the tourists’ batting problems.

England then took firm control with the bat, reaching 366-8 by stumps on Day 2 to secure a 195-run first-innings lead.

Joe Root and Harry Brook were among four England batters to register half-centuries. Root made 66 and shared a 150-run partnership with Jordan Cox, who scored 73, while Dan Lawrence contributed 51 on his return to Test cricket after two years.

Brook, meanwhile, narrowly missed out on a century at his home ground. The world’s top-ranked Test batter made 91 after surviving an early scare when he was dropped on one. He was eventually dismissed by Pakistan spinner Ali Usman, who claimed 5-92 for his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

England maintained a brisk scoring rate of 4.46 runs per over, although the approach was less aggressive than the traditional Bazball style associated with the previous Stokes-McCullum era.

Root also missed an opportunity to add another landmark century to his record. After reaching 66, England’s new Test captain was trapped lbw by Khurram Shahzad and wasted a review, with the ball-tracking showing it would have hit the middle stump.

At stumps, Jamie Smith was unbeaten on 16, with Jofra Archer yet to score.

With England already holding a commanding position in the first Test, Broad’s prediction of a 3-0 series victory will only add to the pressure on Pakistan as the visitors look to fight their way back into the contest.

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