England have been thrown a curveball forward of Ben Stokes’ seemingly comeback within the second Check in Pakistan, with the hosts able to re-use the identical pitch in Multan.
It’s uncommon for Exams to be performed back-to-back on the identical venue and unprecedented for a similar pitch for use twice in succession however, after shedding the sequence opener by an innings and 47 runs, it seems the hosts have sought a left-field resolution.
The observe was stubbornly flat for the primary Check, with first-innings totals of 556 and 823-7 and simply 13 wickets within the first three days.
Now, Pakistan are seemingly able to gamble {that a} worn wicket which noticed 353.3 overs of motion previously week provides higher stability between bat and ball than a pristine one.
It may show an fascinating conundrum for Stokes to resolve if the England captain returns to the facet as anticipated on Tuesday.
He seemed to be absolutely recovered from his torn hamstring, bowling at close to full tilt in addition to operating and batting at an non-compulsory web session, in what amounted to a health take a look at after lacking his facet’s final 4 video games.
He’s now more likely to reclaim the reins from Ollie Pope, maybe as a substitute for all-rounder Chris Woakes.
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Highlights of day 5 of the primary Check between Pakistan and England
The primary indication of intrigue over the Multan pitch got here when each groups arrived for coaching on Sunday morning, with massive industrial followers positioned at both finish of the unique pitch to hurry the drying course of after it was closely watered post-match.
Various wickets had been additionally being ready on both facet, but it surely was the central one which was attracting probably the most consideration. It’s not but unattainable, then, that there might be a late change of coronary heart.
Whereas there was minimal deterioration within the first Check, there have been seen cracks opening up and the occasional signal of variable bounce. If issues do start to interrupt up, it may show a really completely different expertise to final week’s run-fest.
Babar dropped in radical Pakistan shake-up
Babar Azam reacts as he walks off the sphere after his dismissal through the fourth day of the primary Check
Pakistan have dropped star batter Babar Azam in addition to strike bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah in a radical shake-up for the rest of the Check sequence towards England.
After six consecutive defeats underneath new captain Shan Masood and a winless streak at house that dates again greater than two-and-a-half years, a revamped choice panel has reacted decisively to England’s innings victory within the first Check.
Babar, the usual bearer for the nation’s cricket lately and present world No 1 in ODIs, leads the omissions for the second and third matches.
The 29-year-old final scored a Check century in December 2022 and has a prime rating of simply 41 in 18 subsequent innings.
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Mark Butcher explains why Joe Root can overtake Sachin Tendulkar’s Check run report, and the way lengthy it would take for the Englishman to take action
Simply as strikingly, main seamers Shaheen and Naseem have additionally been stood down only one recreation after getting back from damage.
First-choice spinner Abrar Ahmed has been dominated out after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed the sickness which struck him down within the first Check is a case of dengue fever and reserve wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed has additionally been launched.
It quantities to a drastic overhaul, not least given the transient three-day turnaround between matches in Multan.
Uncapped trio Haseebullah, Mehran Mumtaz and Kamran Ghulam have been known as up, alongside quick bowler Mohammad Ali and off-spinner Sajid Khan.
Veteran spinners Noman Ali and Zahid Mehmood, aged 38 and 36 respectively, additionally return after being a part of the unique coaching group for the sequence.
Squad: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel, Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Zahid Mehmood.
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Ollie Pope joked England had ‘two grasping Yorkshiremen’ after Joe Root and Harry Brook shared a report stand of 454
First Check: Multan – October 7-11 – England gained by an innings and 47 runs
Second Check: Multan – October 15-19
Third Check: Rawalpindi – October 24-28
Each match from the 2024 Girls’s T20 World Cup can also be reside on Sky Sports activities from October 3-20 with Australia aiming for a 3rd straight title and seventh general, and England looking for to triumph for the primary time for the reason that inaugural version in 2009.
Watch day one of many second Check between Pakistan and England in Multan, reside on Sky Sports activities Cricket and Foremost Occasion from 5.30am on Tuesday, forward of play ranging from 6am. Stream with NOW
