NASSER HUSSAIN: If we are really witnessing Test cricket’s last dance, England are putting on a rave

If you look at the remarkable scorecard from the first day in Rawalpindi, you could be forgiven for thinking England had gone out all guns blazing — Bazball at its best, or something like that.

But until Ben Stokes came in at the end, I barely saw a single swipe or slog. Instead, they cruised along at a rate of better than a run a ball without losing their shape. 

What has changed is the mindset and the intent. As we’re seeing on a regular basis now, it’s amazing what can happen when the coach and captain remove the fear of failure.

Ben Duckett (L) and Zak Crawley (R) helped England score 506 on the first day against Pakistan

It’s the scenario sportsmen dream about. To convince yourself that none of it matters when you know, deep down, that it really does. To treat a role you’ve spent your life working towards as if it’s just another day at the office. To imagine representing your country is like a knockabout in the park.

I was a fearful cricketer, focused on survival at all costs. These guys just want to go out and have fun. It’s great to watch.

Let’s be honest, this Rawalpindi surface is as flat as a road. There was no lateral movement for the bowlers at all, bar a bit of reverse swing after lunch, and the outfield is rapid. But you still need to have the right attitude to cash in, and the way England batted was a lesson for everyone; the mind is more important than technique.

Crawley knocked 122 runs in what was the highest ever opening day Test score in Rawalpindi

Duckett dispelled the theory that he struggles against spin with an impressive knock of 107

It was especially pleasing to see Ben Duckett come back for his first Test in six years and bat as if he instinctively understood how Brendon McCullum and Stokes want their team to play.

Duckett joined the Test squad at the Oval in September after the injury to Jonny Bairstow, and it was clear that McCullum really liked what he saw.

The coach isn’t looking for sloggers: he wants guys who can play positive cricket with an uncluttered mind, and Duckett fits right in.

I always felt Duckett was unfairly pigeon-holed after his first stint in Test cricket, when people said he was a poor player of spin. That wasn’t true.

He was sorted out by one spinner, India’s Ravichandran Ashwin, who has a superb record against left-handers in home conditions. Anyone who’s seen Duckett play county cricket — first for Northamptonshire, now for Nottinghamshire — will know what a talent he is. He’s very strong square of the wicket, he can sweep superbly, and, being a short man, he picks up the length very quickly.

Number three Ollie Pope was England’s third centurion after tons from Duckett and Crawley

Against the spinners, he’s a nightmare for the opposition captain, as Stokes mentioned before the game, because he has a full repertoire of sweeps which means it’s almost impossible to set a field for him. He was all over the leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood until he finally missed one.

Yes, you’d choose to make your return as a Test opener at Rawalpindi in December rather than Lord’s in May, but he seized his chance magnificently.

It was also obvious that he and Zak Crawley complement each other nicely. Crawley is tall, right-handed and gets on the front foot, hitting mid-off and mid-on very strongly.

Duckett is short, left-handed and prefers to go square of the wicket. The bowlers constantly have to adjust their lines and lengths, as we saw yesterday.

Harry Brook hit a century of his own towards the close of play, knocking 101 runs from 81 balls

It might also have helped Duckett that he’s played cricket here in the Pakistan Super League. The same goes for Harry Brook, and we saw how well both men played during the pre-World Cup T20 series here a couple of months ago.

When my England team toured Pakistan in 2000-01, everything was new, and we were finding our way. But the manner in which Duckett and Brook batted was another reminder of the advantages of franchise cricket. Brook knocked off an 80-ball hundred as if he’d been doing it all his life.

And don’t forget, England scored 500 in a day without a big contribution from Joe Root. Usually, he’s the bloke who rescues them from 30 for three. McCullum will be thrilled his team have thrived without Root.

These were friendly conditions, but England still had to cash in — and they did that in style.

Captain Ben Stokes upped the tempo with aggressive boundaries after he came to the crease