England prepared for Pakistan’s spin attack in 2nd Test

Returning England captain Ben Stokes claimed on Monday he really hopes a reused pitch for the 2nd Test versus Pakistan in Multan will certainly play right into the visitors’ hands as opposed to the spin-heavy hosts.

Desperate to level the three-match collection after an innings and 47-run loss on Friday, Pakistan called 3 rewriters in 4 modifications from the initial Test.

In an unusual action, Pakistan– that have actually currently gone winless in 11 home Tests given that February 2021– chose to make use of the exact same level surface area on which England accumulated 823-7 proclaimed in respond to their 556 full blast.

“If you look at the way that the first Test played out, if another wicket like that was produced, maybe that gives us more of an advantage,” claimed Stokes, back in the side after missing out on the initial Test with a hamstring injury.

Despite the first-innings run-fest– with Harry Brook wrecking 317 and Joe Root making 262– England bowled out Pakistan for 220 in their 2nd innings to protect an impressive triumph.

England excluded seamers Gus Atkinson and Chris Woakes to generate Matthew Potts and Stokes, however maintained the exact same rewriters in Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir.

“You’d like to think it might be a bit more in favour of the spin, so if it does spin more, or if it does reverse more, there’s more options there for both teams,” included Stokes.

The all-rounder, that might not yet be fit to bowl, claimed he has actually never ever seen such a technique prior to.

“It could be a tactic but I’ve never seen a pitch before used in back-to-back games. And I’ve never seen fans that big standing as umpires,” he claimed, describing 2 huge commercial followers at both ends being made use of to dry out the pitch.

Since Stokes and head trainer Brendon McCullum took control of in May 2022, England have actually played hostile cricket, with just one draw.

“I think if we went 1-0 down at home, we would probably be going to our groundsman at the second Test saying ‘can we have a bit more of this, bit more of that’ to use our home advantage in our favour.

“With me being captain and Baz being trainer, that’s just how we both see cricket, that there need to be a victor.”

Pakistan’s assistant coach Azhar Mahmood believes the pitch will help his team.

“The method behind the made use of pitch is to take 20 arches,” said Mahmood.

“We wish to obtain 20 England arches and opting for rewriters will certainly aid us control.”

Zahid Mahmood, Sajid Khan and Noman Ali make up Pakistan’s spin trio, with Aamer Jamal the only frontline pace bowler.

Mahmood defended the decision to leave out struggling star batter Babar Azam.

“There is no doubt that Babar Azam is our ideal batter,” said Mahmood of Azam, who is without a half-century in 18 innings.

“He is not gone down, we have actually offered him relax thinking about the coming frantic cricket timetable and we believed it would certainly be best for him to find revitalized for the 3 away trips coming.”

sh/jc/bsp