PAK vs ENG: Pitch Conditions and Tactical Shifts Set the Stage for Decisive England-Pakistan Third Test

The upcoming third Test between England and Pakistan promises to  be an intriguing contest, particularly with the spotlight once again  on the pitch. After the dramatic turn of events in the previous Test,  all eyes will be on how the surface at Rawalpindi behaves. I can’t  think of many sports where the outcome, or even the way the game  is played, relies so heavily on the surface. 

I don’t blame Pakistan at all for trying to get the ball to turn. Their efforts to prepare a pitch that offers spin will be crucial, though it is  expected to take time for the ball to turn significantly, possibly from  Day 3 onwards. This leaves both teams with a fascinating challenge  in managing their tactics and adapting to the conditions. 

Pakistan’s strategy to favor spin makes sense, considering their  squad composition, but turning the traditionally less responsive  Rawalpindi pitch may not be easy. They will be banking on the likes  of Noman Ali and Sajid Khan to lead the spin attack, but the  potential for reverse swing in the latter stages of the game shouldn’t  be overlooked.  

For England, their approach seems clear. Ben Stokes’ men will likely  continue their aggressive style of play with the bat, but they may  need to adjust their tempo depending on how the pitch develops. 

Gus Atkinson was rested for the last game, and he’ll definitely return  for this one. The interesting selection has been that of Rehan Ahmed in the England XI. I’m a huge fan of Rehan—he’s toured Pakistan  before and performed well, taking 5 for 48 in the last Test in Karachi.

The one thing people often overlook with Rehan is that they focus  solely on his bowling.  

I am not saying Carse’ selection was wrong. England were quite  astute in replacing Rehan with Carse because he brings a similar  skill set.  

Like Rehan, Carse is an aggressive bowler who looks to take  wickets, and he’s also an aggressive batter. Rehan is a leg-spinner  who likes to attack and try to take wickets, even if it means taking  risks with his bowling, which Ben Stokes appreciates and  encourages.  

But it’s important not to underestimate Rehan’s batting ability. He’s  also a naturally aggressive batsman, and at this stage of his career, I  believe his batting may actually be more developed than his  bowling. 

Leg-spin is a tough skill to master, and while Rehan is progressing  well, his batting is arguably ahead for now. So, England’s decision to  swap him for Carse makes sense given the expected conditions and  the importance of spin in this match. It’s a fair, like-for-like  replacement. 

Harry Brook and Joe Root will be key in countering Pakistan’s spin,  with Root’s experience in rotating the strike crucial in keeping the  pressure on the bowlers. England’s lineup remains largely  unchanged, with Atkinson returning, and the inclusion of Rehan  being a pivotal decision.  

The role of Jack Leach will be even more vital in this match. He is  wicket-taking bowler who can also maintain control. As the go-to  bowler for Stokes to build pressure, Leach’s ability to keep things 

tight will be crucial, especially given that the other England  spinners, including Rehan and Shoaib Bashir, are likely to be more  erratic as they are still young and progressing. 

This is the kind of challenge Stokes will relish as captain, as he’ll  need to be precise in balancing attack and defense. While Stokes  isn’t one to focus much on defense, there will be moments where  he’ll have to adopt a more cautious approach, and that’s where he’ll  likely turn to Leach to help build pressure and keep things tight. As  for England’s batting, their approach is clear—they play  aggressively, and you can expect them to stick to that strategy in  this match. 

Looking at the pitch, it’s unlikely we’ll see dramatic turn on day one  or even day two, despite efforts to make it spin. The real challenge  will likely begin around days three, four, and five when the surface  starts to break up. This makes the toss crucial, and it’s clear that  batting first would be the preferred option.  

England, however, will need to ensure they’re batting and bowling at  the right moments. Even if they bat aggressively and post 500 runs in  100 overs, Pakistan could still be in a good position if the pitch  remains intact early on. 

It’ll be interesting to see how both teams adjust their batting tempo  to match the conditions as the pitch deteriorates. England may  need to be a bit smarter with their approach, though this doesn’t  mean they’ll tone down their usual aggressive style. 

A key player to watch will be Ollie Pope, who, despite playing 50-51  Tests, has been inconsistent with his form. He’s produced some  brilliant innings and big scores recently, but he’s still seeking the 

kind of consistency he’s shown in first-class cricket. Pope has had  periods of prolific scoring, but he’s also struggled at times, so  finding that balance will be important for him. England remains  confident that he’s their best option at number three, and rightly so,  but he’s under pressure to deliver, even if it’s not with a massive  score. 

Pakistan will look to capitalize on the form of younger players like  Kamran Ghulam, who made a strong impact in the previous Test.  However, the pressure on experienced figures such as Shan  Masood and the Pakistani management to deliver in this match will  be immense, especially following bold decisions to leave out senior  players in the last Test. 

I think Pakistan will approach this match more strategically,  perhaps by adding an extra seamer to their lineup. If they lose the  toss, their seamers will be crucial, and I wouldn’t be surprised if  they leave out Zaid Mahmood, who only bowled a few overs in the  last game, in favor of another fast bowler. They can’t rely on winning  the toss and batting for a day and a half, so they need to prepare for  the possibility of losing it and having to bowl first. 

I’m also a big fan of Masood. He remained calm in the first couple of  Test matches despite being under a lot of pressure, both personally  and from the management. Pakistan’s batting lineup is young, and  the impact made by debutant Ghulam, who performed brilliantly,  has given the team a huge lift. It was a bold move by Pakistan to  leave out highly-experienced senior players in the last Test, but they  were rewarded for it. However, the conditions in Rawalpindi will  likely present a bigger challenge.

A broader point to consider is how Pakistan prepares their pitches.  Historically, they’ve had some exceptional fast bowlers, spinners,  and reverse swing specialists. It’s surprising that reverse swing  hasn’t had much impact in the series so far, though it may play a  role in the final Test. Pakistan will need to think carefully about their  pitch preparation going forward, as it’s hard to expect consistent  success at home on pitches that don’t offer much until day six,  seven, or later. 

All in all, this third Test could very well hinge on how the teams  manage the surface and adapt their strategies, with both sides  having a lot to play for in the series decider.