England’s victory over Pakistan has to go down as one of their most incredible wins away from home, writes NASSER HUSSAIN

This has to go down as one of England’s most remarkable victories away from home. After conceding 556 in the first innings, to be able to score that many runs and take a lead so quickly and find a way to get 20 wickets was incredible.

When Ben Stokes took over as captain, he said England were not interested in drawing. If you’re going to have the conversation, make sure you walk the talk, and they definitely did that. They continue to break records and make history.

Here in Multan I was particularly charmed by their ruthlessness with the bat. They have definitely changed their approach after losing 4-1 in India at the start of the year.

Everyone says they were completely outplayed during that series, when in fact in the Test matches they lost they were in positions where the result could have gone the other way if they had been a little more ruthless. Since then, that Bazball reset has happened.

For example, how many times did Joe Root play a reverse scoop before reaching 100? All his reverse firsts come after that.

England were particularly ruthless with the bat as they scored 823 in their first innings

What is most impressive is that England’s batting unit as a whole has managed to show ruthlessness and still score at five per over. They have managed to maintain their attacking instincts and play positive cricket, but they are just hungry for runs and put their foot on the opposition when they are down.

For every bit of brilliance they showed with the bat against Pakistan, they were almost as good with the ball considering this was an inexperienced bowling attack. Chris Woakes has been around for a long time, but even he hasn’t bowled in Asia since 2016.

Brydon Carse was a real plus coming out of this test. On his debut, in these conditions on a very flat pitch, he showed his ability and versatility. The match was won by England as they reduced Pakistan to 80-6 on Thursday night and much of that was down to Carse.

Gus Atkinson also impressed. After his brilliant first Test summer, one hoped he could translate his form with a Dukes ball in English away-from-home conditions. Well, he showed here that he can be a threat away from home on a cross-country road and that he can pick out great players like Babar Azam.

So it looks like England have really added to their stock of fast bowlers in time for Australia next year.

There is still a bit of work to be done, especially catching and trying to get Shoaib Bashir to bowl a more attacking line.

The traveling fans were able to witness one of England’s most remarkable victories away from home

England spin bowling coach Jeetan Patel said after the first day that they had to look after Bashir and give him pitches to defend. But in the second innings they had 800 runs on the board and the opponent was 80-6 and Bashir still bowled a leg stump line. His role has to be to get wickets in these conditions and in Australia.

The challenge for England now is to hold on under these conditions, as this match would have demanded a lot from the players. They might want to freshen things up and bring in Matthew Potts.

How they bring Ben Stokes back in will depend on his fitness.

As long as he is fit enough to bat, he can just sit it out and get a few more days of training in his legs. Otherwise, Ollie Pope would be the most vulnerable because in these hot conditions you need your full bowling quota on that pitch.

If Stokes can bowl a bit, I might consider using him as a fourth player and using him in front of Bashir. This pitch wasn’t running much, even on day five. Jack Leach’s wickets did not come from big innings deliveries. But if you think it’s going to spin, then you would keep your two spinners.

Yorkshire duo Joe Root (left) and Harry Brook (right) led the way with their record-breaking partnership

If Stokes were fully fit, you might put him in for someone like Woakes. But I don’t think you can have Stokes as the third player in these circumstances coming back from a long and serious injury. It would be too much of a risk and ask too much of your other two seams.

As for Pakistan, they are at a very low point. They have now lost six Tests in a row and have just announced a new selection committee.

They are in turmoil and I don’t see this England team resting on their laurels or taking their foot off the accelerator.