England vs Pakistan Tests December 2022: England Won 3–0 — Bazball Conquers the Subcontinent
England's tour of Pakistan in December 2022 was the first English Test tour of Pakistan in 17 years and produced a dramatic 3-match series. England won the series 3-0 — applying Bazball philosophy on the subcontinent in a result that astonished the cricket world. First Test Rawalpindi (1–5 Dec): DRAW — England scored 657/8 declared (Harry Brook 153, Ben Duckett 84); Pakistan 579; Pakistan 2nd innings 268/6 declared; England 73/0. Second Test Multan (9–13 Dec): England won by 26 runs — England 281 & 167; Pakistan 202 & 220. Third Test Karachi (17–21 Dec): England won by 8 wickets — Pakistan 216 & 118; England 304/3 declared & 56/2. Ben Duckett scored 84 & 84 in the second and third Tests. Player of the Series: Harry Brook. Ben Stokes captained England; Babar Azam captained Pakistan.
England's Test tour of Pakistan in December 2022 was the first time England had played a Test series in Pakistan since 2005 — a gap of 17 years due to security concerns that had kept international cricket away from Pakistan for an extended period. Under captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum, England arrived applying the aggressive Bazball philosophy that had already seen them win Test series against New Zealand, India and South Africa in summer 2022. The question was whether the approach would work in Pakistan's traditionally spin-friendly conditions.
The 657 at Rawalpindi and England's Declaration Game
The first Test at Rawalpindi opened the series in extraordinary fashion. England scored 657 for 8 declared — Harry Brook contributing 153 and Ben Duckett 84 in their typically aggressive Bazball style. Pakistan responded with 579. With no time for a result, the first Test ended in a draw. The second Test at Multan (9–13 December) produced England's first win — by 26 runs in a close, hard-fought Test: England 281 and 167; Pakistan 202 and 220. The third Test at Karachi (17–21 December) was more comfortable: England 304 for 3 declared and 56 for 2 chasing; Pakistan 216 and 118, England winning by 8 wickets. England had won 3-0 — an extraordinary result in Pakistan.
Harry Brook's Emergence and Significance
Harry Brook was named Player of the Series after his 153 at Rawalpindi and consistent contributions throughout. The series was his breakthrough in Test cricket — he had already announced himself in the summer of 2022 but the Pakistan tour confirmed him as a key figure in England's new era. Ben Duckett also impressed with two eighties in the Multan and Karachi Tests. The 3–0 win was seen as the definitive proof of Bazball's adaptability — the approach was not limited to English conditions but could dominate even on the subcontinent. It was England's first series win in Pakistan since 2000.
Frequently asked questions
What were the results of England's Test series in Pakistan in December 2022?
England won the three-match Test series in Pakistan in December 2022 by 3-0 (one draw, two wins). The first Test at Rawalpindi was drawn after England scored 657/8 declared (Harry Brook 153) and Pakistan replied with 579. England won the second Test at Multan by 26 runs and the third Test at Karachi by 8 wickets. It was England's first tour of Pakistan in 17 years and their first series win there since 2000. Harry Brook was Player of the Series. Ben Stokes captained England; Babar Azam captained Pakistan.
Why was England's 3-0 series win in Pakistan in 2022 so significant for Bazball?
England's series win in Pakistan in December 2022 — under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum — was seen as proof that the Bazball philosophy worked outside English conditions. It was expected that the spin-friendly conditions in Pakistan would neutralise England's aggressive batting approach, but England adapted successfully. Harry Brook (153 at Rawalpindi, Player of Series) and Ben Duckett were the key batting contributors. It was England's first Test tour of Pakistan in 17 years and their first series win there since 2000. England's Bazball era had begun in Summer 2022 and by December 2022 it had worked on the subcontinent.