Pakistan v England First Test ratings: Brook 9.5, Stokes 9, Shafique 8, Mahmood 3

Visitors pull off one of great victories as they beat home side by 74 runs after daring declaration in Rawalpindi

PAKISTAN RATINGS: Abdullah Shafique - 8. Pakistan have unearthed an opening gem, as evidenced by his classy first-innings ton. In the second, he made only his second single-figure score of his 15-Test career to date. AFP

Imam-ul-Haq - 8. Cashed in on the benign conditions with a century in the first innings, then 48 in the second. Loves batting in Rawalpindi. AFP

Azhar Ali - 5. Missed out in the first innings, and his second effort was divided into two after he retired hurt with a finger injury. Came back, but could not staunch the bleeding Getty

Babar Azam - 7. Made the most aesthetically pleasing of the seven centuries scored in the game. Which is standard. But he was powerless to stop England’s march to victory. AFP

Saud Shakeel - 6. The first batter in the match to resort to a conventional Test match scoring rate. Made 37 and 76, which qualifies as forgettable in a match of such heavy scoring. Getty

Mohammad Rizwan, 5. Did not reach a half-century in the game, and it felt like Pakistan’s chances – either of winning or saving the game – went with him when he was dismissed second time around. AFP

Agha Salman - 6. Showed fight with the bat, but the all-rounder was taken to when he bowled. Not that he was alone in that. AFP

Naseem Shah - 7. Must have known he was in for a tough time as soon as he bowled the first over of the game and it went flying all around Rawalpindi. And at the end of it, he was the last man out. AP

Zahid Mahmood - 3. Savaged, in particular by Harry Brook, to the tune of 319 from the 44 overs he sent down in the match. It was painful. AFP

Haris Rauf - 5. Managed just 13 overs in his debut Test before succumbing to injury, and the fast bowler might be wondering whether playing the longest format was a sensible ambition after all. AP

Mohammed Ali - 5. One of four debutants for the home team, he must be hoping it is not always this difficult. The most chastening start imaginable. AFP

Zak Crawley - 9. Started the avalanche of runs with his stunning opening partnership with Duckett on the first morning. Must wish he could play against Pakistan every week. Reuters

Ben Duckett - 8. A golden duckett in the second innings, but he had proved his worth in the first with a sparkling century on his return to the line up. Reuters

Ollie Pope - 8. Handed the gloves in an emergency due to illness to Ben Foakes, but it was no drama. Made a ton from No 3, and seven dismissals while keeping for 252 overs. Reuters

Joe Root - 6. Gave the game its most salient memory, when he decided to bat left-handed. Didn’t score a century, though, when everyone else did. Reuters

Harry Brook – 9.5. Eyed up Gilbert Jessop’s ancient record for the fastest Test ton by an England player in both innings, only to just miss out in the first, then fell for 87 in the second. AFP

England's Ben Stokes (C) celebrates with teammates after the dismissal of Pakistan's Haris Rauf (not pictured) during the fifth and final day of the first cricket Test match between Pakistan and England at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, in Rawalpindi on December 5, 2022. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP)

Liam Livingstone – 4. A bittersweet Test debut. Received his cap, but missed out on the run glut, then injury precluded him from bowling, and ruled him out of the rest of the series. Getty

Will Jacks – 7. Might have been playing Abu Dhabi T10. Instead, was handed a Test debut, and took a first six-wicket haul of a first-class career that had previously brought him just 21 wickets in 41 games. AFP

Ollie Robinson – 8. Rawalpindi was a test of both his new fitness levels, as well as his motivation. How he thrived, taking four for 50 in the fourth innings to help settle it for England. AFP

Jack Leach - 7. Went for 246 runs in the Test match, but ended up laughing last with the wicket that finally ended Naseem Shah’s resistance. AFP

James Anderson – 9. What an extraordinary cricketer. Four for 36 in 24 overs on a backbreaking pitch, all at 40 years old. Just silly. Getty

England claimed one of their greatest ever Test victories after beating Pakistan by 74 runs in Rawalpindi.

The success was the latest triumph in Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum’s transformative reign in charge of the England side – and surely its most sensational yet.

There were 1,768 runs in all in the game, which is the highest aggregate of any match outside of timeless Tests.

There were seven centurions. And after their batters had razed the home bowlers in the first innings, England had just enough time, as the light was drawing in, to set the seal on victory.

In the gallery above you can see how the players rated. To move to the next image, just swipe.