Pakistan bank on spin as England welcome Stokes back on reused Multan pitch

Pakistan have made major changes to the side for the second Test against England starting in Multan on Tuesday, in hopes of leveling the series.

Following a crushing defeat in the first Test at the same venue, where England secured victory by an innings and 47 runs, Pakistan’s strategy has shifted dramatically, focusing on spin as their primary weapon.

Reusing the first Multan Test pitch

The pitch used in the first Multan Test will be reused for the second match. In the first Test, England capitalized on the flat pitch, amassing a massive total of 823-7, as the surface provided little assistance to the bowlers.

England's head coach Brendon McCullum and his Pakistani counterpart Jason Gillespie inspect the pitch during a practice session ahead of their second Test cricket match at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan on October 13, 2024. AFP

As cracks began to develop towards the end of the first Test, it is expected that they will be more prominent and impactful from the early stages of the second match. This scenario would benefit Pakistan’s spinners, giving them a chance to exploit the dry surface and generate turn and bounce. To capitalize on these conditions, Pakistan have included three specialist spinners in their playing XI: Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, and Zahid Mehmood.

Pakistan’s spin trio

Noman Ali, aged 38, returns to the Test side for the first time since July 2023, while 36-year-old Zahid Mehmood last represented Pakistan in December 2022. Sajid Khan, whose previous appearance came in January, completes the trio. These experienced spinners bring depth to Pakistan’s bowling attack and are expected to be central to their strategy against England.

Pakistan’s decision to load the team with spinners reflects their struggles with the pace attack in the first Test. Fast bowlers Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah have been left out, as Pakistan adjusts their game plan to suit the conditions better.

A shift in strategy

Pakistan’s assistant coach, Azhar Mahmood, outlined the clear shift in approach for the second Test. "Our plan is straightforward—attack England through spin,” Mahmood said on the eve of the match. “We know that taking 20 wickets is crucial, and on this pitch, spin is our best option to achieve that.”

Mahmood also highlighted the difference in pitch preparation compared to previous matches. Just two months ago, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan controversially fielded an all-seam attack against Bangladesh.

"We prepared pace-friendly wickets against Bangladesh, but against England, our focus has shifted to spin pitches,” Mahmood explained. "We instructed the curator for the first Test that the ball should start turning after the second day, but unfortunately, the pitch didn't offer much turn until the fifth day."

This time, Pakistan hopes the cracks on the Multan pitch will aid their spinners earlier in the match, giving them the upper hand.

Stokes returns

While Pakistan have focused on their spin options, England hav made changes of their own, with captain Ben Stokes returning to the side after recovering from a hamstring injury. His return bolsters England’s lineup, adding both leadership and all-round capabilities.

Matthew Potts also comes back into the side for the first time since the Lord’s Test against Sri Lanka in August. England’s decision to rest seamers Gus Atkinson and Chris Woakes in favor of Stokes and Potts suggests a more balanced attack, though they resisted the temptation to bring in leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed as a third slow-bowling option.

England captain Ben Stokes during the pre-match press conference on Monday.PCB

Stokes, aware of Pakistan’s spin-heavy approach, expressed no concerns about playing on a used pitch.

“It’s the first time I’ve played on a used wicket in a Test series, but that’s part of the home advantage,” Stokes said on Monday. “If we were in the same situation, we would probably ask for conditions that suit us as well.”

Despite the challenging conditions, Stokes emphasized that a used pitch could create opportunities for both teams. “A worn surface brings more into play—whether it's reverse swing or extra turn—so we’re prepared to adapt.”

Stokes confirmed that he is fit to resume his role as an all-rounder, rather than playing solely as a specialist batter. After undergoing extensive rehabilitation and bowling in the nets, Stokes is ready to contribute with both bat and ball.

“I’m available to bowl when the time is right, and I feel confident that I can make an impact when needed,” Stokes said.

Bold moves from Pakistan

In addition to reinforcing their spin attack, Pakistan are set to hand out Test debut to Kamran Ghulam, while the rest of the batting order remains unchanged. Ghulam, 29, has previously represented Pakistan in an ODI in January 2023.

The decision to rest senior players, including captain Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Sarfaraz Ahmed, signals Pakistan’s intent to manage player workloads ahead of a packed international schedule.

Mahmood was quick to downplay any controversy surrounding Babar’s exclusion, stating that it was a decision based on resting the star player for upcoming tours.

"Babar is our No. 1 player in terms of technique and ability," Mahmood said. "Pakistan has so much cricket coming that the selection committee decided to give Babar a rest, because Pakistan have to go to Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.”

A fresh approach

With a revamped squad and a renewed focus on spin, Pakistan enters the second Test with a clear game plan. However, the challenge remains steep. Multan’s pitch, just days removed from conceding one of the highest Test totals in history, must now be transformed into a surface that favors Pakistan’s bowlers. England’s powerful batting lineup, led by the likes of Joe Root and Harry Brook, will be ready to counter Pakistan’s spinners.

As the series progresses, the second Test will serve as a litmus test for Pakistan’s ability to adapt to home conditions and recover from their first-Test defeat. Victory in Multan could set the tone for the rest of the series and restore Pakistan’s confidence, while another loss could deepen their troubles on home soil.

Pakistan XI: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (captain), Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Zahid Mehmood

England XI: Ben Stokes (captain), Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (wk), Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir