Pakistan vs England player ratings: Harry Brook falters as Brydon Carse nails down spot in best XI

Pakistan levelled the series against England in Multan as spin on a used pitch proved key.

Telegraph Sport rates how the players performed in the second Test.

Ben Duckett

114, 0

Lived by the sweep, to score 52 of his first-innings runs, and died by it when top-edging in the first over of his second innings. A unique method is well-suited to low-bouncing pitches: indeed he kept England in the game far longer than would otherwise have been the case. The big question: what happens in Australia, especially if their seamers aim full and straight and test his defence. 8/10

Zak Crawley

27, 3

So impressive and successful now against pace, his two dismissals by spin were rather artless. Given that there has not been a taller England specialist batsman, it is difficult for him to get down low to sweep but he has to work on this shot – even if he gives up on reverse-sweeping as too complicated a mechanism. And he has to remember that, batting in the easiest position in Asia, he owes the team big first-innings runs. 5

Ollie Pope

29, 22

The big gain is that he started his two innings with more calmness than hitherto, having some experience as captain – a winning captain – behind him. The drawback is that, since his superlative 196 in India, his game against spin retains a certain artlessness. He got out exactly in the way that the off-spinner Sajid Khan intended him to, with those two over-optimistic drives. 5

Joe Root

34, 18 and nought for 37

Any luck he needed in his double-century in the opening Test deserted him when he dragged on an off-break via his back leg: that was the moment – at 211 for two in England’s first innings – the match shifted irrevocably Pakistan’s way. This game raises a good question: can England win without a major contribution from Root? Given that they lost the Oval Test when he had a quiet match, it seems not. 6

Harry Brook

9, 16

The old-fashioned saying is “if in doubt, push out” but there was nothing old-fashioned about Brook’s triple-century so it would be harsh to criticise his two dismissals – except that, if he had played forward to Sajid Khan’s off-breaks instead of going back, he would have had a better chance of surviving them. 4

Ben Stokes

1, 37 and nought for 33
His comeback was cursed by calling incorrectly and losing the toss on a result wicket. All the many benefits that he brought with them were outweighed by that call. He was right to play though, even if not fully fit to bowl: as captain he conjures up 20 wickets every time like a magician. Did his best to compensate for a naive first-innings dismissal with outrageousness in his sweeping and reverse-sweeping. 7

Jamie Smith

21, 6 and 5 catches

Some fine catches but such a critical drop when he put down Salman Agha early on off Brydon Carse – his biggest mistake yet as a wicketkeeper. His height is going to be an issue when the ball shoots along the ground, but this was probably a momentary loss of concentration and failing to watch the ball right into his gloves. Did that drop have a knock-on effect? Slog-sweep an off-break, yes, but not a left-arm spinner gaining big purchase. The lowest point of his career so far. 6

Brydon Carse

4, 27 and five for 79

Has guaranteed himself a regular place for the foreseeable future (although he has earned a rest in Rawalpindi). He has always been a wicket-taker, given a speed higher than 85mph, but now he has Test-match accuracy too. He is as good as anyone in the England squad at reverse-swing and, blessed with bull-like strength, keeps going – even when two catches in one over went down. Can bat too, not just hit, and could pass as a No 7. 9

Matthew Potts

6, 9* and three for 85

A whole-hearted effort on a pitch that was grassless and heartless. But another cab has overtaken him on the rank, his Durham team-mate Brydon Carse, so he remains in a similar position as before, about sixth choice. Needs a lot more runs to ensure a regular place, to go with his fine fielding. 7

Jack Leach

25*, 1 and  seven for 181

Steady as ever, and he is adding touches of flight and guile and changes of pace, but wiliness? Still a work in progress. There were occasions when a right-hander like Salman Agha was bound to charge, and a slower and wider ball would have been opportune, rather than one fired through straight. His counterpart Noman Ali had this wiliness, including balls delivered with a lower arm. 7

Shoaib Bashir

9, 0 and five for 151

Bowled a much better line – ie more aggressive line outside off stump – than hitherto, but still far too variable in length. Even allowing for his youth he should not be bowling so many floaty half-volleys to right-handers. Against left-handers however he remains the real deal. 6

Pakistan

Abdullah Shafique 3
Saim Ayub 7
Shan Masood 5
Kamran Ghulam 9
Saud Shakeel 6
Mohammad Rizwan 7
Aamer Jamal 6
Sajid Khan 9
Noman Ali 9
Zahid Mahmood 3