England banking on return of Ben Stokes as uncertainty around Pakistan’s captaincy lingers

Pakistan’s under-fire cricketers face a stronger challenge in their upcoming three-match Test series against England at home, having recently been whitewashed 0-2 by Bangladesh.

The series, part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC), will run from October 7 to 28, with matches scheduled in Rawalpindi and Multan.

Return of skipper Ben Stokes

England’s experienced captain, Ben Stokes, returns to lead the team as he recovers from a hamstring injury. Stokes missed England’s recent 2-1 series win over Sri Lanka, during which middle-order batter Ollie Pope served as captain in his absence.

Stokes, a seasoned all-rounder with over 100 Tests under his belt, is expected to reignite the aggressive style of play that he and England coach and former hard-hitting batter, Brendon McCullum, have fostered. This aggressive approach, popularly known as “Bazball”, has revolutionized England’s approach to Test cricket.

England's Ben Stokes in action against West Indies in Grenada in 2022.Reuters

Stokes is known for his inventive and unconventional field strategies, often surprising opponents with tactics that break away from tradition. Successful Test captains frequently experiment, and adhering solely to conventional methods rarely yields the desired results. A sharp cricketing mind is crucial for a captain.

During their last tour of Pakistan, England's high-scoring rate—sometimes exceeding seven runs per over—left the cricketing world stunned. Although they gave Pakistan some opportunities in the first two Tests in Rawalpindi and Multan, the hosts failed to capitalize and were eventually whitewashed 3-0 after England sealed the series with a win in Karachi.

In that series England always would score with a high pace with Pakistan responding with just over three runs per over, a strategy which always went against them. It would invite undue pressure on the batsmen. The nature of Test cricket has evolved, and Pakistan will need to approach this series with a fresh strategy.

Pakistan’s strategy for England series

Pakistan must develop a more effective strategy, especially in pitch preparation, as the team’s batting has shown vulnerability against even slight bounce and deviation, as seen in their recent series against Bangladesh.

Choosing lively pitches may backfire due to Pakistan's own fragile batting lineup, including captain Babar Azam, who has struggled in recent Test matches. Even spin-friendly pitches may not help, considering Pakistan’s current challenges in both pace and spin departments. Abrar Ahmed, for instance, was unimpressive in the second Test against Bangladesh.

Pakistan’s chances against England will hinge on selecting the right team combination. Flat pitches may be chosen to support their shaky batting, but the challenge remains steep.

Uncertainty prevails over Pakistan captaincy

Captaincy is another issue for Pakistan, as Shan Masood has failed to win in five consecutive Tests. There is speculation in the media about a captaincy change, with Mohammad Rizwan being touted as a potential replacement. However, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has stated that the decision on captaincy will be made by the national selectors and coaches.

Mohammed Rizwan and Naseem Shah combined to dismiss Zakir Hasan during their first Test against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi in September 2024.PCB

The PCB has scheduled a high-profile meeting on September 23, called the “Connection Camp,” to discuss the future of Pakistan cricket, including the captaincy. This meeting will include the current head coaches of the red-ball and white-ball teams, Jason Gillespie and Gary Kirsten, as well as senior cricketers, coaches, and PCB officials.

Pakistan must resolve the captaincy issue soon to focus on finalizing their strategy for the England series.

With both teams struggling in the ICC World Test Championship rankings—Pakistan in eighth place and England sixth—the upcoming series promises to be highly competitive.