Slightly over a month after their historic first Take a look at cricket collection loss in opposition to Bangladesh, Pakistan are set to host a historically more durable opponent, England, in a three-match cricket residence collection from Monday.
The final time England toured Pakistan in 2022, they returned with a 3-0 whitewash within the bag and with the so-called Bazball period – originating from the kind of attacking cricket they play below coach Brendon McCullum – on the rise.
Whereas the English workforce continues its daring new voyage, Pakistan cricket finds itself below acquainted clouds of gloom and doom after a string of abysmal outcomes and a change of management.
Former Australian cricketer Jason Gillespie has been tasked with altering the fortunes of Pakistan’s Take a look at facet as its head coach, however a 2-0 residence collection defeat in opposition to Bangladesh dashed hopes of an instantaneous reversal in fortunes.
Calls got here for yet one more change of captaincy and Shan Masood was closely criticised. Gillespie, nonetheless, has absolutely backed the skipper and, within the first a part of his unique interview with Al Jazeera, stated that consistency in choice is the important thing to rebuilding the Take a look at facet.
Gillespie hopes Pakistan could make England sweat
The brute pressure of England, who sit 5 locations above Pakistan within the Take a look at workforce rankings of the Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC), might dent the Pakistan followers’ hopes additional.
Nonetheless, Gillespie has no worry of the English method and believes a standard Take a look at cricket method would be the excellent antidote to McCullum’s Bazball.
“We all know how England bat,” Gillespie informed Al Jazeera within the lead-up to the collection. “We all know they’re going to go fairly exhausting with the bat and they’re most likely going to be fairly defensive and affected person with the ball.
“That’s advantageous. We are going to look to counter no matter is thrown our means as greatest we are able to,” Gillespie stated.
The Pakistan coach insists his workforce can play “good, exhausting and constant Take a look at cricket”.
The 49-year-old stated his workforce will likely be affected person however take the sport ahead when offered with a possibility.
“We aren’t going to get sucked into the English fashion of play,” Gillespie stated. “There’s a purpose why they name it Take a look at cricket: It assessments your abilities, health and endurance.”
Whereas Bangladesh confronted Pakistan in acquainted South Asian situations, England arrived from a bitterly chilly and moist September at residence and with little time to settle.
“It’s going to be stinking scorching, so I’m hoping we are able to problem England [in the heat],” Gillespie continued.
England claimed a 2-1 collection win in opposition to Sri Lanka of their final outing at residence, however the remaining match of the collection noticed the hosts collapse to a humbling eight-wicket defeat. Questions have been raised concerning the make-up of the new-look facet – now shorn of their longtime opening bowling duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
England can even be with out their common Take a look at captain Ben Stokes, who will miss the primary Take a look at attributable to health causes. Seamer Brydon Carse will make his debut.
Arrivals ✈ Heat Ups 💪 Nets 🏏
Multan, Pakistan 📌
🇵🇰 #PAKvENG 🏴 | #EnglandCricket pic.twitter.com/Vx68ENaiPE
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) October 4, 2024
‘We are able to match as much as England’
In the meantime, Pakistan have issues of their very own, having not received a house Take a look at match since February 2021 – a winless streak of 10 video games. However Gillespie says his facet ought to play with out worry of loss or the opposition.
“We match as much as England,” stated the previous seamer, who performed 71 Assessments and 91 one-day internationals (ODIs) for Australia. “They’ve had some adjustments of their personnel and have quite a lot of younger bowlers who wouldn’t have skilled Pakistan earlier than, so we see it as a possibility to compete exhausting.”
Of their final 5 Take a look at collection, Pakistan have received one – away to Sri Lanka in July 2023.
A bunch-stage exit from the 50-over ICC World Cup in November was adopted by the resignation of their all-format captain Babar Azam.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) determined to separate the captaincy, handing Masood the Take a look at function whereas quick bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi was entrusted with the T20 management. The white-ball captaincy went again to Azam, however he left it for the second time in lower than a yr.
Regardless of the adjustments, Gillespie has reiterated his intent to again his captain and gamers as he appears to create an setting the place they really feel “secure”.
He believes there’s no lack of motivation or effort from his gamers.
“Gamers don’t want motivation to symbolize their nation,” he stated. “If the motivation isn’t there, then you might be most likely within the fallacious sport or fallacious occupation.
“We’re decided to show individuals fallacious on this England collection. We simply must exit and again our abilities.”
Centered on Sport Day 🏏
The Take a look at collection begins on Monday 🔴#PAKvENG | #TestAtHome pic.twitter.com/wD7x03OVjz
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 6, 2024
