Pakistan vs England: ‘Are spinning pitches Bazball’s kryptonite?’ forward of series-deciding third Take a look at in Rawalpindi

As Pakistan and England put together for the series-deciding third Take a look at in Rawalpindi on Thursday, Michael Atherton requested on the most recent Sky Sports activities Cricket Podcast, “are spinning pitches Bazball’s kryptonite?”

Pakistan pressured a decider courtesy of a convincing 152-run win within the second Take a look at in Multan, on a used pitch that had additionally hosted England’s opening victory by an innings.

The flat pitch from per week prior lastly supplied help to the bowlers second time spherical, with Pakistan’s spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan sharing all 20 England wickets, prompting efforts to provide a equally turning monitor for the third Take a look at – stay on Sky Sports activities Cricket from 5.30am, Thursday (first ball, 6am).

“Since 2021, England have played 16 Test matches in Asia – nine in India, five in Pakistan and two in Sri Lanka – winning eight and losing eight, some of those a little bit before Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum took over,” Atherton mentioned.

“Some of England’s defeats of late under those two have come on pitches that have spun quite significantly… the four in India and the one in Multan, so you can certainly see why Pakistan are desperate to produce a turning track.”

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‘England lose one in all their tremendous strengths on turning monitor’

A picture taken at Rawalpindi previous to the third Take a look at has proven two massive followers, six gas-powered heaters and two big windbreaks on the taking part in floor, as Pakistan search to put on the pitch.

However Rawalpindi, historically, has been “the flattest of flat tracks that you can imagine,” in keeping with former Pakistan girls’s worldwide Urooj Mumtaz.

The hosts haven’t received of their final 4 Exams there, together with a well-known defeat to England within the opening Take a look at of their 2022 tour, a match wherein the vacationers tonked 506 runs on the opening day’s play.

“The thing with Bazball is that the batters love flat pitches, the likes of Harry Brook,” Atherton mentioned.

“I am not saying that they are flat pitch-only gamers, however on pitches that do not do quite a bit, they rating at such an unbelievable fee.

“Rawalpindi two years ago, they scored 500 in 75 overs on the first day – an astonishing scoring rate. But obviously, on pitches that do a little bit more, that kind of scoring rate is not always achievable, and so they lose one of their super strengths as a team – their ability to really score quickly.”

Atherton added on his expectations for the third Take a look at floor: “I think it’ll be a pretty good pitch [for batting] for a day or two.

“Clearly, they [Pakistan] are attempting to make it spin – that goes with out saying. They’re attempting to bake it.

“But it’s not going to be so easy. Rawalpindi has got the reputation of being one of the flattest pitches of any ground. It’s not a used pitch… they can’t do what they did in Multan and play a game that effectively starts on the sixth day.

“It will spin at some stage, I am positive, however I believe it is going to be a fairly good pitch for perhaps the primary half of the sport.

“It will be like going back to the more traditional type of cricket here, where the game goes along normally for two or three days and then, eventually, things start to happen.”

Ahmed in as third spinner for third Take a look at | No probability of reverse-swing’

With the expectation of a turning pitch, England have modified the steadiness of their facet, bringing leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed in as a 3rd choice alongside Shoaib Bashir and Jack Leach.

Gus Atkinson additionally returns, one in all solely two seam choices, skipper Stokes being the opposite, as Matthew Potts and Brydon Carse – so spectacular within the first two Exams – are not noted.

Carse claimed 9 wickets at a median of 24.33 after making his Take a look at debut within the collection opener in Multan, however a bruised heel and a scarcity of reverse-swing anticipated in Rawalpindi could have contributed to his absence.

“Carse has bowled really well… he has a bit of a bruised heel, is fit to play, but is being rested after two tough games,” Atherton mentioned.

“Obviously they’re changing the balance of the side, with Rehan Ahmed – who’s not played since Rajkot in the India tour [in February], in terms of Test cricket – coming back in.

“He solely took 13 wickets at 60s for Leicestershire this summer time, however he is right here because of this, because the third spinner. And England clearly really feel the time is true.

“The other thing about the selection is that, unlike in Multan, there are no cut strips either side of the pitch – there’s the pitch, and then just lush green grass on the square and a lush outfield.

“There’s completely no probability of any reverse swing. And I believe that, as a lot because the pitch truly, has inspired England to play the additional spinner on the expense of the seamer.”

First Take a look at: Multan – October 7-11 – England received by an innings and 47 runs

Second Take a look at: Multan – October 15-19 – Pakistan received by 152 runs

Third Take a look at: Rawalpindi – October 24-28

Watch the third and closing Take a look at between Pakistan and England stay on Sky Sports activities Cricket and Principal Occasion from 5.30am forward of the primary ball at 6am on Thursday, October 24 as the edges head to Rawalpindi.