England players have not played a second Test in Asia for more than two years after Rawalpindi. So it will act as a decider in more ways than one, not only deciding the outcome of the three-match series in Pakistan, but also informing the lasting verdict on whether Ben Stokes and his How well equipped is the team? Competing in the subcontinent.

It is an oddity of the schedule that after 17 Tests in Asia over the last four years, England are not to return for the next two. Their white-ball sides will return regularly, including for next year’s Champions Trophy and the T20 World Cup in 2026, but their next Test tour is not until February 2027, in the form of a two-match series in Bangladesh. .

Since Stokes took over the captaincy two-and-a-half years ago, England’s record in Asia has been flat: five wins and five defeats, one of those victories under Ollie Pope. They are not the only team to have struggled in India over the past decade, losing 4-1 earlier this year, but a second consecutive win in Pakistan would brighten their subcontinental record.

Rawalpindi was the scene of England’s biggest win two years ago, when their batsmen posted 506 for 4 in 75 overs on the first day of the series, before the skill of their bowlers and the brilliance of Stokes. He could take 20 wickets. lifeless surface. They are up for a significantly different challenge this time around, which is reflected in their choices.

“It looks like it will be a pretty good wicket for the first two days,” Stokes said. “There’s not enough grass on it to hold it together, so the rationale behind three spinners was, as the game goes on, maybe it will come into play… It was just weighing on what we thought. Who will be effective as the game progresses.

“It’s pretty clear that some rakes have been put into it… I’ve never been a groundsman, but you’d think a rake would help the spin. Work from.” When asked if only one end has been extended, Stokes clarified: “No, both have – but there are some areas.”

While the grass was cut on both sides of the playing surface in the second Test in Multan, only three pitches have been cut on the square in Rawalpindi this week. “The outfield was as lush as it was, and there’s not much (on the square) to work with, we’ll probably struggle to get reverse swing,” admitted Stokes.

Pakistan’s approach to pitch preparation in the past two weeks has raised some eyebrows: the decision to recycle the same strip in Multan was unprecedented, and the ground staff in Rawalpindi to adapt the surface to Sajid Khan and Noaman Ali. Has worked to a great extent. But Stokes declined the chance to complain, delivering a simple verdict on Tuesday: “That’s good, innit?”

Brendon McCullum believed the toss swung the second Test “65-35” in Pakistan’s favour, and it would be crucial again in the third. Stokes said toss plays a bigger role in the subcontinent than any other part of the world. “(But) I don’t think we’re going to have that intense of a situation as the game goes on: when we start it’s going to be a one-day wicket, not a sixth-day one.”

Historically, England have been less adjusted to overseas conditions and find themselves wondering why their medium pacers are ineffective without blades of live grass on the pitches. This year, they have been much more open-minded – as evidenced by the inclusion of Rehan as a wild-card third-spin option, which they hope will create chances even when the pitch is flat.

Stokes played down the relevance of his quiet season for Leicester, saying, “Adding Ryan’s free spirit and desperation to change the game every time he gets the ball has been a huge plus for us this week. It’s a big bonus.” “Legspinners have an amazing ability to open up a game… you need it and don’t need it rather than not.”

The decider also gave Stokes the final opportunity for some time to change perceptions of his batting on the subcontinent: his batting average in Asia is 27.22, his lowest on any continent in eight years. Earlier with his lone century on the road in Rajkot. He is yet to score a fifty in eight innings in Pakistan.

His ridiculous outing at Multan belied the fact that he top-scored in England’s second innings, and was the only batsman who relied almost entirely on his sweeps and reverses to achieve success. Searched. For all his impressive leadership, Stokes has not scored a Test century for 16 months: with the series, he will be desperate to end that run.

The success of the McCullum-Stokes regime will ultimately depend on their results against India and Australia next year, but this third Test will go a long way towards determining their team’s credibility in Asia. When asked how important a win would be, Stokes gave a one-word answer: “A lot.” For all that England wants to entertain, this week is their focus.

Matt Roller is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @mroller98

(Tags translation



Source link