MULTAN (Pakistan): England skipper Ben Stokes mentioned Thursday the categorical tempo of fit-again Mark Wood would assist counter dry and spin-friendly situations within the second Test in opposition to Pakistan.
England are on a excessive after an exhilarating 74-run victory within the first Test, and will likely be seeking to take that momentum into the match in Multan, which begins Friday.
A assured Stokes mentioned the addition of Wood — who replaces the injured Liam Livingstone — will add some spice to the England bowling combine.
“Having someone in your squad who can bowl at 150 kilometres per hour is a massive bonus for any team around the world — especially as Pakistan is a very hard place to come and win,” the England captain mentioned.
“Someone of his calibre will add to our ability to take 20 wickets.”
This could be Wood’s first Test since March. He missed the primary match in Rawalpindi with a hip harm.
Ollie Pope will proceed as wicketkeeper rather than Ben Foakes, who missed the Rawalpindi match after coming down with a thriller virus that swept by the visiting squad.
Jack Leach and Will Jacks — who shared 9 wickets on a dull Rawalpindi pitch — are England’s most important spin choices.
“The pitch is dry and it seems a lot more muggier here than (Rawalpindi),” Stokes mentioned of the grassless high in Multan.
“You might see reverse swing coming into a Test match a lot earlier.”
The England skipper mentioned he anticipated Pakistan to return again preventing to save lots of the three-Test sequence, however added that his facet haven’t any plans to alter their ways.
“We will have the same mindset over the next five days and hopefully everything we do can contribute to us leaving here two-nil up,” he mentioned.
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam, in the meantime, mentioned he hoped for some assist from the Multan floor for his spinners.
“This one is dry and there will be spin and reverse swing — but you need to play at your best to win,” he mentioned.
Pakistan have but to resolve if they are going to choose Faheem Ashraf or Mohammad Wasim Junior of their tempo assault for the second Test.
England are on a excessive after an exhilarating 74-run victory within the first Test, and will likely be seeking to take that momentum into the match in Multan, which begins Friday.
A assured Stokes mentioned the addition of Wood — who replaces the injured Liam Livingstone — will add some spice to the England bowling combine.
“Having someone in your squad who can bowl at 150 kilometres per hour is a massive bonus for any team around the world — especially as Pakistan is a very hard place to come and win,” the England captain mentioned.
“Someone of his calibre will add to our ability to take 20 wickets.”
This could be Wood’s first Test since March. He missed the primary match in Rawalpindi with a hip harm.
Ollie Pope will proceed as wicketkeeper rather than Ben Foakes, who missed the Rawalpindi match after coming down with a thriller virus that swept by the visiting squad.
Jack Leach and Will Jacks — who shared 9 wickets on a dull Rawalpindi pitch — are England’s most important spin choices.
“The pitch is dry and it seems a lot more muggier here than (Rawalpindi),” Stokes mentioned of the grassless high in Multan.
“You might see reverse swing coming into a Test match a lot earlier.”
The England skipper mentioned he anticipated Pakistan to return again preventing to save lots of the three-Test sequence, however added that his facet haven’t any plans to alter their ways.
“We will have the same mindset over the next five days and hopefully everything we do can contribute to us leaving here two-nil up,” he mentioned.
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam, in the meantime, mentioned he hoped for some assist from the Multan floor for his spinners.
“This one is dry and there will be spin and reverse swing — but you need to play at your best to win,” he mentioned.
Pakistan have but to resolve if they are going to choose Faheem Ashraf or Mohammad Wasim Junior of their tempo assault for the second Test.