Their average against all three partnerships is higher than the global average. Against England, the eighth wicket makes on average 27, with the global average being 23. Against England, the ninth wicket makes on average 19, with the global average being 16. Against England, the 10th wicket makes on average 13, the same as the global average. By comparison Australia’s equivalent numbers are 23, 11, and 16 (so they struggle to break the last wicket). For India, it’s 25, 14 and eight.

Even in this series, Pakistan have made more than 400 runs from the seventh wicket down, at an average of 34, with four stands of more than 50. With the bat, England’s tail has not contributed a fifty stand.

Here is the anatomy of England’s latest tail-end trouble. This was not a case of the wheels coming off through a series of ripped chances – although a couple of half-chances went begging on day two – more death by a thousand cuts.

Curious bowling changes

Rehan Ahmed had been on a roll before lunch, and appeared to have turned the decider England’s way by prising out three right-handers, Mohammad Rizwan, the obdurate Salman Ali Agha and Aamer Jamal. In the final over before the break, No 9 Noman Ali launched him down the ground for a sweetly struck four.

Normally, this is the sort of moment that Ben Stokes sticks his poker face on for, clapping his hands and applauding his bowler for giving the ball some flight. Instead, Stokes appeared concerned by Nolan’s ability to pick Ahmed’s variations and the fact that there were now two left-handers at the crease. So instead of Ahmed, he turned to Shoaib Bashir and Gus Atkinson. Both men had bowled well, but do not possess the unpredictability of a confident young wrist-spinner. Ahmed was not seen for another eight overs, when he swapped ends, losing his rhythm.