Pakistan is flat-out *struggling* to finish off opponents in Test cricket, letting tailenders rack up an average of 25.08 runs per partnership since May 2024. That’s a brutal stat when you’ve got teams like New Zealand and South Africa shutting down those late innings rallies, keeping things strictly under 16 runs. This kind of tactical flaw, letting lower-order batters build partnerships, is absolutely critical as the 2025-27 World Test Championship heads into its final months.
The Tail-End Nightmare for Pakistan
Cricinfo’s latest data paints a pretty grim picture: Pakistan is the worst bowling side against the tail, giving up an average of 25 runs for the seventh wicket and lower. Just look at the other teams hanging out down there with them: Afghanistan at 24.33, Zimbabwe at 24.17, and Bangladesh at 21.92. These aren’t exactly the teams you want to be compared to when it comes to finishing power, are they? Allowing tailenders to build late partnerships is a critical tactical flaw, plain and simple. Teams like India and Bangladesh, despite having some solid spinners, have watched matches slip through their hands just because they couldn’t dismiss the lower order. It’s a serious problem, and the numbers don’t lie.
The Champions Know How to Finish
Meanwhile, the teams battling it out at the top of the 2025-27 World Test Championship know how to get the job done. Australia, a favorite for their third final in a row, clocks in at 17.85 against the tail. South Africa, a hot second favorite, is even better at 15.92, consistently preventing those late innings partnerships. New Zealand? They’re downright ruthless at 15.00, proving themselves as one of the most efficient bowling attacks out there. Even West Indies (17.58) and Ireland (13.20) show some serious efficiency. India (20.22) and Sri Lanka (20.10) hold respectable figures, but those top teams truly show how it’s done. There’s a huge gap between the best and the rest, and it’s making a massive difference in the standings.
With the World Test Championship getting down to the wire, these blown opportunities for Pakistan are just absolutely crushing. Letting teams off the hook after having them six wickets down under 200 runs? That’s exactly how crucial matches slip away. Pakistan needs to figure out how to put opponents away, or their championship dreams are gonna evaporate real quick.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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