Rawalpindi, October 23, 2024-Pakistan has retained its spin-heavy team for Thursday’s series-deciding third Test against England, as both sides anticipate another dry wicket that will favor the slow bowlers.
The groundsmen have been working for the past four days to dry out the track using industrial-sized fans and outdoor heaters, fulfilling the wish of Pakistan skipper Shan Masood to nullify England’s aggressive batters.
Left-arm spinner Noman Ali and off-spinner Sajid Khan claimed all 20 England wickets in the second Test, played on a recycled wicket in Multan, leveling the series at 1-1. England had won the series opener by an innings after posting a record-breaking 823 for seven, with Harry Brook scoring a triple-century and Joe Root making a career-best 262.
The third specialist slow bowler, leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood, bowled six wicketless overs in England’s first innings and was not needed in the second innings as the visitors folded for 144 against Ali and Khan, losing the second Test by 152 runs.
“The wicket is very dry with not a lot of grass on it,” Pakistan head coach Jason Gillespie said on Wednesday. “We expect it to favor the slower bowlers.”
The toss could again play a vital role, with the spinners expected to dominate the batters as the game progresses.
The dry conditions have encouraged England to recall leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed as its third specialist slow option, joining Jack Leach’s left-arm spin and the off-spin of Shoaib Bashir.
“Who knows what’s going to happen?” said captain Ben Stokes after England’s last training session at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. “It looks like a very good wicket at the moment, but with some cricket on it, it might change. We feel that the longer it goes on, the more spin will come into play.”
Rehan has replaced Matthew Potts in the England team, while Gus Atkinson, who was part of the memorable win by an innings and 47 runs in the first Test, will replace the rested fast bowler Brydon Carse.
Reverse swing with the old ball might be ineffective due to the greener square on both sides of the wicket.
“The square is very lush and green,” Stokes said. “It’s going to be hard to manufacture reverse swing. The longer the game goes on, the more spin will come into play.”
Playing Xis
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (captain), Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Rizwan, Aamer Jamal, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Zahid Mahmood.
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson, Rehan Ahmed, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir.
