“The batting is a concern,” he said. “In both Tests we haven’t batted well. We try to create a combination that strengthens the batting. But unfortunately, that didn’t work this innings either.”

Nothing, indeed, that Pakistan have tried with the batting has ever looked like working. If anything, the batting numbers have consistently gone from bad to worse. Each of the three innings of this series has resulted in Pakistan posting a lower score than the one that preceded it, and each time, Pakistan have played fewer balls than the previous one.

After the bowlers had kept Pakistan in the game, the afternoon produced a hammer blow as it took England barely a session to shoot Pakistan out, taking what feels like an unassailable lead already.

“The team keeps getting out in 30-odd overs,” Sarfaraz said. “We’re unable to spend time at the crease. They’re challenging conditions for batters, but you’re rewarded if you spend time at the crease. The first 30-40 balls are difficult for batters, but if you get out of them, you’ll find it easier, like Azan did. The first hour for a batter requires good technique as a batting unit.”

The journey of improvement, according to Sarfaraz, lies beyond just this series, or the men playing it. With some of the batters’ techniques coming under scrutiny, the head coach said it was necessary for any batter to play as much first-class cricket as possible.

“You must play domestic cricket. If you’re not playing domestic cricket, that’s on you. It will always help you.”

But beyond the big picture, he did not give up hope of still salvaging the Test, despite England’s enormous, and swiftly ballooning lead. By the time bad light called play off, England had added another 81, extending their aggregate advantage to 261. Even without a run added to that overnight score, Pakistan getting anywhere near it would require them to showcase a level of skill and patience that has not been in evidence this series.

“Strange things happen in cricket, so I’m still hopeful,” Sarfaraz said. “There’s still one innings left. If we can get them out in the next 70-80 runs and chase down a target around 300-350, there’s a chance.”

That would fly in the face of history, both recent and ancient. Pakistan have never scored more than 300 runs in the fourth innings of an England Test, let alone in a successful chase. This Pakistan side is yet to crack 200 on this tour, and they are all but certain to play a batter light, with a calf tear ruling Imam-ul-Haq out of action in the first innings.

Sarfaraz might get criticism for some of the results that have come Pakistan’s way since his ascension to the role, but it is hard to argue with his characterization of such an outcome; it would be quite strange.