"Mental baggage of having to field for 150 overs and going for 800-plus runs" - Nasser Hussain on Pakistan's batting collapse on day 4 in Multan

Former England captain Nasser Hussain believes that one of the reasons Pakistan's batting unit struggled on day four in Multan was due to mental exhaustion. The 56-year-old hailed Test cricket for testing players across all fronts for five days.

Pakistan's bowling unit toiled for almost two days in Multan as England batted for 150 overs. With the tourists also amassing a 267-run lead, the home side crumbled to 82/6 in their second innings on day four. Salman Ali Agha and Aamer Jamal led the fightback as Pakistan finished the day on 152/6.

In his column for Sky Sports, Hussain wrote that Pakistan switched off for half a session or so, which came back to haunt them. He said:

"That's why Test cricket is an unbelievable format, because it tests you for five days. You can't switch off, you can't drift away for half a session, and that's exactly what happened to Pakistan. The mental baggage of having to field for 150 overs and going for 800-plus runs, and then the mental scarring. You get one, you get two and then all that mental baggage and scarring comes back to haunt you."

Pakistan's issues compounded on day four as leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed didn't take the field due to fever and was hospitalized. He is also unlikely to bat on day five, meaning the visitors need only three more wickets with 115 runs as a cushion.

"It's one of the flattest pitches that we've ever seen" - Nasser Hussain on the Multan surface

Hussain also lauded England's ruthlessness on day four, as they are on the cusp of a win despite batting for 150 overs. He added:

"That's one thing maybe this side have been criticised for with the bat, is that they've not been ruthless. Forget the conditions and forget the pitch, it's one of the flattest pitches that we've ever seen really, but they were definitely ruthless. And in their own special way. How you can score 820 in 150 overs and still be ruthless? This side has managed to do that."

Salman Ali Agha and Aamer Jamal have stitched an unbroken stand of 70 and will need to bat out day 5 for Pakistan to avoid a loss.