Pakistan bank on batting depth to overcome England’s all-round side in Multan Test

The three-match Test series between Pakistan and England, starting on October 7 in Multan, is set to be an exciting showdown as both teams face unique challenges and opportunities.

England, fresh off a 2-1 victory over Sri Lanka, will aim to repeat their success from their last tour to Pakistan, where they dominated with a 3-0 series win in 2022 – Ben Stokes' first overseas series as captain.

Pakistan, however, are eager to bounce back from a dismal 0-2 series defeat to Bangladesh last month.

Missing Stokes

England skipper Ben Stokes, who tore his hamstring while playing for Northern Superchargers in The Hundred in August, will miss the first Test in Multan.

"I tried my hardest to get myself fit for this game, but I've taken the call to miss this one because I’ve not quite managed to get game-ready," Stokes told BBC Sport.

Stokes’ leadership was instrumental during England’s last tour of Pakistan, where he continually pushed the team to be aggressive and creative, setting fields and declaring in ways that kept the opposition guessing.

England Test captain Ben Stokes during the third Test against Pakistan in Karachi in 2022.Reuters

In Stokes’ absence, Ollie Pope will take over the captaincy, a role he has filled before in limited matches. Stokes himself has expressed confidence in Pope, emphasizing the continuity in the leadership ethos.

“Another 3-0 would be nice. That’s definitely what we will be going for,” said Stokes.

"Ollie has got that experience from being part of the squad last time so I am sure he will take some of the tactics I used," he added.

He also stressed that England’s approach won’t change—playing with a high-risk, high-reward style that looks to force results rather than settle for draws.

England's selection: New faces and familiar comebacks

England have announced their XI for the first Test, featuring some new and returning faces. Durham seamer Brydon Carse is set to make his Test debut, stepping into the void left by the absence of experienced bowlers like James Anderson, Mark Wood, and Ollie Robinson. Carse has impressed in white-ball cricket and brings express pace, something that will be crucial on the flat pitches of Pakistan.

Former England captain Nasser Hussain, speaking to Sky Sports, said, "Carse can do the Mark Wood role. He's got a lot of pace, and if the pitches are anything like last time, England will need that."

Jack Leach returns to the Test setup, marking his first appearance since England's tour of India earlier this year. After recovering from injury, Leach has regained his rhythm playing for Somerset, and he will be key in England’s spin department.

England's Ben Duckett celebrates after completing his century in the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in 2022.Reuters

Another key returnee is opener Zak Crawley, who missed the series against Sri Lanka due to a broken finger. His presence at the top of the order alongside Ben Duckett will be vital as England look to set strong foundations against Pakistan's bowling attack.

Pakistan’s tactical approach

Pakistan enter the series with their own set of challenges but their vice-captain Saud Shakeel and head coach Jason Gillespie are optimistic about the team’s chances against an England side known for its high-risk, high-reward brand of cricket.

"England always play attacking cricket, and that gives you an opportunity to induce mistakes in them," said Shakeel in a pre-series press conference on Saturday.

Pakistan’s plan is to absorb the pressure and capitalize on the inevitable errors that come from England's aggressive tactics. "If they're attacking, and we just let them make their mistakes, that might work out better for us."

This strategy isn’t new, and Sri Lanka managed to exploit England’s aggressive tendencies during their recent series, inducing collapses that allowed them to win the third Test. Pakistan, however, will need to execute this plan better than they did in Bangladesh, where both their batting and bowling faltered.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Test captain Shan Masood emphasized the importance of focusing on their own strengths rather than fixating solely on England’s tactics.

On the eve of the match in the press conference on Sunday, Masood said, “We understand their style of cricket, but we have to focus on what we do best. We’ve kept clarity in our playing XI, taking into account the conditions and opposition, which is why we’ve announced our lineup early.”

Pakistan’s form and challenges

While England’s seam attack lacks experience, Pakistan is grappling with their own fast-bowling issues. Their once formidable pace unit has struggled with injuries and form. Shaheen Afridi has been out of form, missing the second Test against Bangladesh. Khurram Shehzad, who took six wickets in the first innings of that Test, is now out due to injury. However, Aamer Jamal’s return is a significant boost for Pakistan, offering both bowling depth and a reliable lower-order batting option.

"Aamer Jamal’s return provides us an edge in bowling, plus he also showed his batting capabilities in Australia. We’ve opted for eight batsmen because, during the Bangladesh series, we struggled to put up the necessary runs after losing our top seven, something Aamer Jamal had previously managed for us in Australia. His absence in Bangladesh, due to injury, was a big blow, especially considering he took 18 wickets in just three matches in Australia," Masood said.

Abrar Ahmed, who took 11 wickets on debut against England in 2022, has struggled to replicate that form in recent matches. Despite having Noman Ali and Zahid Mehmood in the squad, Pakistan will rely on Abrar and Salman Ali Agha to lead the spin department.

"To strengthen our spin department, we’re relying on Abrar Ahmed and Salman Ali Agha. We’re also fielding three pacers, aiming to cover all areas and be prepared for any situation over the five days of the Test match," Masood said.

Batting woes

Pakistan’s batting has been inconsistent, with players struggling to convert starts into substantial scores. Babar Azam, who has been out of form, scored only 64 runs across four innings in the recent series against Bangladesh. Abdullah Shafique has managed just one fifty in his last ten Test innings. Saud Shakeel acknowledged the issue, noting, “We’ve struggled with converting starts into big scores.”

Pakistan's Abdullah Shafique was cleaned up by a beauty from Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed during the second Test in Rawalpindi in 2024.AFP

However, Masood remains confident in his batters’ abilities. “We’re maintaining consistency in our playing XI because these players have delivered for Pakistan in the past. One strong start could give us the momentum we need as a Test side,” he said.

Pakistan will heavily rely on senior players like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan to provide stability, while Saud Shakeel will also play a key role, having performed well in the previous series against England.

Both teams have announced their playing XI, and the series will ultimately come down to who can execute their plans more effectively.

Playing XIs

Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel,Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmad

England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (c), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir