Pakistan to reuse same pitch in Multan for second Test against England
Ahead of the second Test against England, cricket fans and analysts in Pakistan are more than conversation-minded with an unusual decision by the Pakistan Cricket Board regarding the reuse of the same pitch on which the first Test was played. The bold move came in after Pakistan lost the first game, a game in which the pitch was widely criticized to offer no support whatsoever to the bowlers and that had come up to staggering 1,599 runs for just 26 wickets.
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Unusual decision
It is an unusual phenomenon to have two Tests running sequentially at the same venue. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board is more than eager to inject fresh air after a string of disappointing results in home grounds. The PCB is keen to explore all possible avenues to break an 11-match losing streak in Tests.
The Multan pitch was dosed with huge amounts of water and followed closely in the lead-up to the match; industrial-sized fans were deployed to help the pitch further dry, especially given the cracked footprints left by bowlers in the first Test. Pakistan head coach Jason Gillespie and captain Shan Masood inspected the ground and met with PCB’s chief Australian curator Tony Hemming on the best course of action forward.
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Expect role of spin
With a low-scoring game expected, the reclaimed pitches are likely to encourage spin bowling. The team management of England, including veteran bowler James Anderson, believes Pakistan’s strategy would be to rely more on spinners. Commenting on the conditions, Anderson said that a fluctuating bounce took place at the end of the first Test. “You would expect the cracks to do something, especially in dry, hot conditions,” he explained.
With heavy spin likely to dominate, England may even choose to play Ben Stokes at a batting position, playing him largely as an all-rounder. Stokes has taken on more bowling and is seriously endeavoring to become more of an all-rounder. Crucially, with the state of the pitch in Pakistan, that commitment might come in extremely useful, as Anderson explained, Stokes is singing from the chorus, ready to make a real contribution.
More change
It has not been without its critics, however. Former England captain Kevin Pietersen described the original surface as a “bowler’s graveyard”. But he also said that reuse could present unique challenges for both teams. ICC pitch regulations call for the “best possible pitch and outfield conditions”, leaving room for creativity in approach, especially for teams desperate to win.
They are acutely aware of the stakes. They must change their approach to this game, while exploiting local knowledge, to allay concerns about their performance so far in the first Test. England is presently in the driving seat with a 1-0 lead; Pakistan are aware that they have a window of opportunity to square the series.
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Final Thought
All eyes will be on the Multan pitch as play begins on the second Test on Tuesday. Will the surface prove favourable to the home team or will the players of England, especially the spinners, be able to exploit it to gain further wins? The cricket fans and commentators will all wait and watch how this unprecedented decision goes ahead.
Conclusion: Pakistan’s risk of reenacting the same pitch tells the level at which they will do things differently in trying to adapt and innovate in the challenging environment.