England Target Repeat of Pakistan Test Whitewash

AFP/APP

London: Ben Stokes’ England take on Pakistan in a three-Test series starting on Monday, buoyed by memories of an astonishing 3-0 series sweep in 2022. 

England, ranked third in the world after winning five of their past six Tests, face a Pakistan team at a low ebb after being crushed by Bangladesh. AFP Sport highlights key talking points for the tourists ahead of the series, starting in Multan.

Stokes Factor

England recently secured a 2-1 series victory against Sri Lanka without skipper Ben Stokes, but he remains the team’s undisputed leader and talisman. 

The 33-year-old all-rounder misses the first Test due to a torn hamstring, and it’s uncertain whether he’ll bowl when he returns. Stokes’ inclusion as a specialist batsman would alter the team’s balance, which favored five frontline bowlers in the Sri Lanka series. 

England may opt to replace a regular top-order player with Stokes, or they might play four specialist bowlers, relying on Joe Root’s off-spin to supplement the attack. 

Despite being sidelined for two months, Stokes proved his worth against the West Indies, scoring three fifties in his last four innings.

Bazball Mark II?

England’s 2022 tour of Pakistan occurred during the early stages of the “Bazball” era—Brendon McCullum’s all-out attack strategy as head coach. 

The visitors set the tone on the first day in Rawalpindi, smashing an extraordinary 506-4, with four men making centuries. After a 4-1 series loss in India earlier this year, McCullum emphasized the need to “refine” their style. A controlled, aggressive approach has since paid off, with England thrashing the West Indies 3-0 and beating Sri Lanka 2-1 at home. 

Retired bowling great Stuart Broad believes the Bazball method will work in Pakistan again, citing England’s proficiency against spin and their ability to maintain a fast pace to force results.

Inexperienced Attack

The era of Stuart Broad and James Anderson has ended, and England is building a new pace attack in preparation for India and Australia next year. Chris Woakes is the senior paceman, though his overseas Test record is weak, while express bowler Mark Wood is unavailable. 

Surrey seamer Gus Atkinson has had a remarkable start to his Test career, taking 34 wickets in six games, but he, Matthew Potts, and Olly Stone have only 19 caps between them. Brydon Carse will debut in Multan, adding to the inexperience of the attack. 

Broad warned that inexperience could cost the team, particularly with a spinner as inexperienced as Rehan Ahmed, who hasn’t played since the India series, and Shoaib Bashir, with just nine Tests to his name. 

Broad noted, “It’s very difficult to go into a Test match… with three very inexperienced bowlers. If it goes wrong, you could lose a Test match in an hour.”