The two-Test series between Pakistan and the West Indies may have ended level at 1-1, but  the overwhelming feeling is that it deserved a better conclusion. A decider would have  been the perfect finish to what turned out to be a fascinating contest, making it a shame  that the teams were scheduled to play only two Tests instead of three. 

With the series ending all square, attention now shifts to Pakistan’s upcoming tour of  England, which promises to be another intriguing challenge. Pakistan will head into that  contest carrying confidence after bouncing back to win the second Test against the West  Indies. That victory not only helped them square the series but also highlighted their ability  to assess conditions better than the hosts. 

Looking back, the series was largely defined by two very different pitches, and those  contrasting surfaces ultimately played a major role in determining the outcome. The nature  of the wicket in the second Test, in particular, proved crucial for Pakistan. It was somewhat  surprising that the home side prepared a surface that appeared to suit the visiting team  more than themselves. By doing so, the West Indies effectively neutralised one of their  greatest strengths—their pace attack. 

The opening Test had showcased exactly what the West Indies’ fast bowlers are capable  of. Bowlers such as Shamar Joseph, Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales exploited conditions  brilliantly, dominating proceedings with their pace and movement. That attack came to the  fore in the first Test and played a defining role in the hosts’ victory. 

However, the conditions in the second Test shifted the balance. Rather than playing to  their own strengths, the West Indies produced a pitch that favoured Pakistan’s resources.  Pakistan recognised those conditions more effectively than the home side did, and that  proved to be a decisive factor. 

For Pakistan, the victory was the result of both good planning and a measure of good  fortune. They assessed the conditions correctly, selected the right bowling options and  deserved the success that followed. The visitors backed their spin resources, while the  West Indies opted against playing a second frontline spinner alongside Jomel Warrican.  That selection decision may well have influenced the outcome of the match.

Pakistan deserve full credit for identifying what was required and executing their plans  accordingly. While the conditions certainly worked in their favour, they still had to  capitalise on them, and they did exactly that. 

One of the more surprising aspects of the second Test was how long it took the West Indies  to adapt to the surface. Given the experience within their bowling attack, a quicker  adjustment might have been expected. Roach, after all, has claimed 300 Test wickets and  possesses immense knowledge of varying conditions. 

Instead, the impression was that the West Indies persisted with a strategy of banging the  ball into the pitch in search of wickets rather than settling into disciplined line-and-length  bowling that could have built sustained pressure. In hindsight, that may have been an  approach they regretted once the match was over. 

While much of the discussion centres on the second Test, it should not overshadow what  happened in the opener. The first match was heavily influenced by the conditions and by  an outstanding display from the West Indies pace attack. Joseph, Roach and Seales  demonstrated the quality they possess, underlining why the West Indies are capable of  troubling any batting lineup when conditions favour fast bowling. 

Pakistan, meanwhile, also have considerable batting depth, something that perhaps does  not always receive enough recognition. Although Shan Masood missed the second Test  through injury, Pakistan were able to bring Abdullah Shafique into the side—a player whose  absence from the team has often been surprising. 

Shafique is widely regarded as an important member of Pakistan’s batting unit, and the  numbers suggest he performs particularly well when Babar Azam is captain. While his  inclusion came because of Masood’s injury, there is a strong feeling that both players  should feature in the same XI whenever possible. 

A batting order featuring Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam,  Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Rizwan represents tremendous quality. With that level of  talent available, it is somewhat surprising that Pakistan have not enjoyed greater success  away from home. 

The issue appears to lie less with the batting and more with the bowling, particularly in  overseas conditions. At the same time, context is important. Pakistan’s recent away  assignments have included tours of Australia, South Africa and Bangladesh, with Australia  and South Africa especially being among the toughest destinations in world cricket. Those  challenges inevitably make victories difficult to come by.

Nevertheless, Pakistan will take significant positives from this drawn series. Babar Azam  contributed runs in both Tests, while the team as a whole showed resilience after losing  the opening match. Although Pakistan can sometimes appear conservative with both bat  and ball, they have enough quality to pose a serious challenge to England in the upcoming  three-Test series. 

As for the West Indies, there remains plenty to admire, particularly within a young squad  that continues to develop. Their batting lineup contains quality players, but there is also a  recurring pattern that needs to be addressed. 

Too many innings end as useful contributions rather than match-defining ones. There are  plenty of scores in the 20s and 30s, the occasional half-century, but not enough  substantial innings that completely alter the course of a Test match. There are numerous  promising starts and respectable scores, yet too few truly great knocks capable of winning  games. 

That is perhaps the next stage of development for this batting unit. If those talented young  batters can begin converting promising starts into major hundreds or truly decisive innings,  the West Indies will place themselves in far stronger match-winning positions. Considering  they already possess a capable bowling attack, such improvement with the bat could  significantly strengthen the side. 

There is a feeling that this West Indies team has even more to offer. The ingredients are  certainly there, particularly among the younger players, who should continue to improve  with experience. Developing the ability to produce consistently match-winning batting  performances appears to be the area that could elevate them further. 

Above all, though, the lasting thought from this series is that it ended too soon. A third Test  would have been a fitting conclusion to a contest that remained finely balanced  throughout. While scheduling constraints are always difficult and the international  calendar remains congested, this felt like a series that deserved one final chapter. 

Ultimately, the West Indies may look back and feel they allowed an opportunity to slip  away. After their impressive victory in the opening Test—a win that carried additional  emotional significance as it was dedicated to Sir Garfield Sobers—they had established  early control of the series. 

Yet their decision regarding the pitch for the second Test arguably worked against them.  The conditions did not naturally suit their strengths and, in doing so, invited Pakistan back  into the contest.

Pakistan still had to seize that opportunity, and they did exactly that. They read the  conditions better than the hosts, selected accordingly and produced the performance  required to level the series. The conditions may have opened the door, but Pakistan  deserved full credit for walking through it.