What's in the pitch? Race against time to prepare a turner in Pindi

After securing a crucial victory in the second Test on a reused spin-friendly surface in Multan, Pakistan have decided to double down on the spin factor for the third Test in Rawalpindi, which has historically been known for its flat and batting-friendly wickets.

The decision to rely heavily on spin is a calculated response to Pakistan's recent struggles in Test cricket, and is a direct consequence of a series of unsuccessful strategies.

A change in tactics after exhaustion of options

The turning point for Pakistan came after a series of six Test defeats, culminating in a crushing loss to England on a flat pitch in Multan. England's astonishing performance in the first Test, where they piled up a record-breaking 823 for seven, including massive individual scores from Harry Brook (317) and Joe Root (262), left Pakistan searching for answers.

The pitch in the first Test was criticized by former England players, with Kevin Pietersen terming it a ‘bowlers’ graveyard’.

This situation wasn’t new. In the 2022 home series against Australia and England, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was heavily criticized for producing lifeless wickets that were too friendly for batting and neutralized the threat of pace bowling.

The former PCB chairman, Ramiz Raja, had previously defended the pitch conditions, suggesting that they were designed to protect Pakistan's batters against stronger opponents like Australia.

Former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja in conversation with former Pakistan captain Babar Azam.AFP

However, during the current series against England, Raja shifted the responsibility to former captain Babar Azam, claiming Babar was integral in pitch-related decisions, even though Raja had publicly backed the pitch strategy in the past.

Prior to the England series, Pakistan had also experimented with pace-heavy strategies on pace-friendly pitches against Bangladesh, but those plans backfired spectacularly as they were whitewashed in the two-Test series. When the first Test against England on a flat surface ended in another loss, it became clear that the conventional approaches were not working.

A new approach with spin

Having tried and failed with pace-friendly pitches and flat decks, Pakistan stumbled upon a formula in Multan — a decaying, reused pitch that played into the hands of their spinners. In the second Test, Pakistan fielded just one seamer and relied heavily on their spinners, Sajid Khan and Noman Ali, who shared all 20 English wickets between them. Pakistan's 152-run victory in the second Multan Test was a significant morale boost, showing that they could turn the tide by making the most of spin-friendly conditions.

With this success in mind, Pakistan have now set their sights on the third Test in Rawalpindi, starting from Thursday. The challenge, however, is that Rawalpindi is not known for being a turner. In fact, during the 2022 series, England plundered a record 506 runs in just 75 overs on the opening day of the Test here, illustrating how flat and unresponsive the pitch can be. But Pakistan team management is not leaving anything to chance this time.

Intensive pitch preparation

Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood has expressed a clear desire for a turning track, and the PCB has deployed Australian curator Tony Hemming to oversee the pitch preparation at Rawalpindi. The measures being taken are nothing short of extraordinary. To create a dry and spin-friendly surface, the curators employed industrial-sized fans and patio heaters to bake the pitch. The goal is to make the surface as dry as possible before the match starts.

Pakistan's Noman Ali inspects the pitch during a practice session ahead of their third and last Test cricket match against England at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on October 21, 2024.AFP

On Sunday, the pitch was being subjected to three gas-fuelled patio heaters at each end, with giant fans behind them to circulate the hot air across the surface. This meticulous effort aims to ensure the pitch behaves more like the decaying surface in Multan rather than the flat track seen previously in Rawalpindi. With temperatures expected to reach the low 30s throughout the week and clear skies forecasted, Pakistan hopes nature will also assist in creating ideal conditions for spin.

Toss and conditions: The key to success

Much of Pakistan’s strategy hinges on winning the toss, which Masood has done in both previous matches. The team that bats first will have a significant advantage, as batting last on a deteriorating pitch will be extremely challenging. In the second Test, England found themselves batting last on a pitch that had decayed significantly, and Pakistan’s spinners capitalized on the conditions.

England’s Bazball approach, characterized by aggressive batting, thrives on flat pitches, but the team has struggled on spin-friendly tracks. While England’s captain, Ben Stokes, acknowledged that they don’t know what type of pitch they will face in Rawalpindi, the team appears relaxed about Pakistan’s unconventional preparation methods.

England captain Ben Stokes batting in the practice nets in Multan.PCB

However, England may consider including a third spinner in their lineup, with Rehan Ahmed potentially joining Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir. This would give them more options to counter the spin-friendly conditions. On the other hand, Pakistan will be weighing their options, particularly regarding leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood, who played a limited role in the second Test. They may also contemplate adding another pacer to round out their attack, despite the success of their spinners in Multan.

If the pitch turns out as planned, it could provide the home side with a decisive advantage, especially if they win the toss. However, the outcome of the match will ultimately depend on how well both teams adapt to the conditions.