Cricket is one of the few sports where people talk a lot about the playing surface.
England may have won the first match of their Test series against Pakistan, but a lot of attention was on the pitch in Multan, especially as records were broken.
The second Test, which starts on Tuesday at the same ground, might have a similar focus.
So, what can England and Pakistan’s bowlers expect after taking a couple of days off to rest? And why was the pitch such a big topic of discussion in the first match?
What was so ‘shocking’ about pitch?
The pitch in Multan during the first Test made batting look easy at times, especially for players from Yorkshire!
Harry Brook became England’s first player in 34 years to score a triple century. He and Joe Root put together a partnership of 454 runs, breaking the old record of 411 set 67 years ago by Colin Cowdrey and Peter May. England declared at 823-7, which is the fourth-highest total ever in Test cricket, in response to Pakistan’s 556. England then bowled Pakistan out for 220 on the final day.
Former England captain Michael Atherton didn’t hold back in criticizing the pitch, calling it “shocking” and saying it didn’t provide a fair balance between bat and ball, leading to poor cricket despite the result.
Another ex-England captain, Nasser Hussain, pointed out that pitches like this are common in Pakistan and that the result didn’t justify the kind of cricket played throughout the match.
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But how difficult was this pitch for the bowlers?
Since Test cricket returned to Pakistan in 2019, there have been 16 matches where ball-tracking data was available. This Multan pitch had the second-lowest average swing (0.63 degrees) but ranked third-highest in seam movement (0.53 degrees). Spinners had a tough time, especially Pakistan’s, as this pitch produced the least amount of drift (1.16 degrees) and one of the lowest amounts of turn (2.86 degrees) in all 16 matches.
When England last played in Multan in 2022, Pakistan made 328 in the fourth innings, but England still secured a 26-run win.
‘Roll it up, take it with me’
Former England bowler Steven Finn took a look at the pitch for the second match and shared his thoughts.
“It’s wet now, but in the next three days, it will dry out and be shaved down,” Finn said. “Pakistan’s best chance to beat England is by getting the ball to spin and move sideways. If they play on flat pitches like in the first Test, England will likely win again.”
However, Michael Atherton thinks the pitch will be similar to the one in the first Test. “I don’t see how the pitch will be much different in three days,” he said.
England’s bowlers might hope for a change, but Harry Brook, who did well in the first Test, wouldn’t mind another batting-friendly pitch. “It was an amazing wicket. I’d love to take it with me,” the Yorkshire player joked.
Hang on, why is the second Test also in Multan?
The venue for England’s second Test in Pakistan was changed less than two weeks before the series started. Originally, it was scheduled to be played in Karachi, but due to renovation work at the National Stadium, the match was moved.
There were even talks about moving part or all of the series out of Pakistan, with the United Arab Emirates being mentioned as a possible option.
England’s third Test against Pakistan, scheduled for 24-28 October, will be held in Rawalpindi.
Pakistan is also set to host the Champions Trophy early next year, with Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi expected to host the matches.
Could pitch influence England’s selection?
England are likely to make at least one change for the second Test, with captain Ben Stokes expected to return after recovering from an injury that has kept him out since August. His absence allowed Brydon Carse to make his Test debut, and with Carse impressing with the ball, it might be hard to drop him.
Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, however, had a tough time, finishing with match figures of 1-156 from 38 overs, which puts his spot in the team at risk.
Since the Multan ground opened in 2001, only three bowlers have taken more than five wickets in an innings there: Abrar Ahmed, Danish Kaneria, and Anil Kumble — all leg-spinners. England has a leg-spinner in Rehan Ahmed, who took 5-48 on his Test debut against Pakistan in Karachi in 2022. If England is looking for a new spin option, the 20-year-old could be considered for the second Test.