Pak vs Eng – England ready for ‘result wickets’ after pulling off a Multan mauling

Shan Masood has repeatedly spoken of wanting to play on pitches that include fast bowlers since being named captain, but there was nothing to work on as England totaled 823 for 7 in Multan. Pakistan need to win both Tests to secure their first home series since February 2021 and England believe they could gamble on the green field.

Masood played the part of the field, instead blaming his bowlers. “We take it very seriously to discuss the field,” he said. “You play your team’s pitch and your tactics, but you can’t control everything on the pitch… What England showed you can find a way: they took 20 wickets on this pitch, so you can’t say it’s impossible to take 20 wickets on this pitch.”

England hope to welcome Ben Stokes back into their squad for the second Test after missing the first due to a hamstring injury. He has stepped up his form this week, putting in practice every day of the Test, starting to throw down the occasional full run-up, and hitting several long sessions in the nets behind the media centre.

If Stokes does return, England could face a selection problem depending on the availability of bowling – and the condition of the surface. The most likely change would involve him dropping one of their three seamers, but they could leave out one of their two pacers – possibly Shoaib Bashir – and instead give Joe Root a bigger role with the ball.

For Woakes, this was a successful return to playing away from home after two consecutive winters without a test tour. He finished with match figures of 2 for 110 but took one important wicket in each innings: Babar Azam in the first innings, trapped lbw on the second new ball, and Abdullah Shafique, who lost his stumps on the first ball of the second. .

“I probably didn’t think I’d get another chance to do this,” Woakes said. “In a way, I might give it up. But if you get the support of the dressing room, of Ben and Baz. [McCullum]you feel like you’re 10 feet tall and like you could go out and win England cricket matches. I will never reach 25 in these situations but I don’t think many will.

“Thankfully in this Test match, I was able to make a few hits with the new ball on a wicket that was still very disruptive, so I’m happy to have contributed. There will be periods in these situations where you have to hold and work for the guys at the other end.”