Multan, October 5, 2024 – Cricket fans are brimming with excitement as Pakistan and England prepare to lock horns in the first Test of a three-match series, set to commence on October 7 at the historic Multan Cricket Stadium.
Both teams, featuring a mix of experienced campaigners and rising talents, will be aiming to start the series on a high note.
The first Test is scheduled from October 7 to 11, followed by the second match from October 15 to 19, also in Multan, and the final Test from October 24 to 28 in Rawalpindi. Pakistan, eager to assert their dominance on home soil, will be captained by Shan Masood, with Saud Shakeel as his deputy. The squad boasts seasoned stars like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, alongside emerging players such as Saim Ayub and Aamir Jamal. Rizwan and Sarfaraz Ahmed, two of Pakistan’s top wicketkeepers, are both in the squad, offering strength and depth to the side’s lower-order batting.
Meanwhile, England’s Test lineup, led by the indomitable Ben Stokes, will aim to carry their momentum from previous encounters against Pakistan. The English side includes top performers like Joe Root, Harry Brook, and Zak Crawley, while their bowling unit features a dynamic mix of youth and experience, including Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, and Gus Atkinson. However, the absence of their star pacers Mark Wood and Ollie Robinson—both of whom were instrumental during the last series against Pakistan—will be keenly felt.
Interestingly, England’s fast-bowling legend James Anderson, now the team’s bowling mentor, is not accompanying the squad to Pakistan due to his participation in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland. Although Anderson is expected to join the team on the second day of the Test, his guidance is already flowing through to the bowlers remotely. His advice could prove invaluable for England’s relatively inexperienced pace attack, which has limited exposure to subcontinental conditions.
England will rely heavily on Chris Woakes, who is making his first Test appearance in Asia since 2016, to lead the bowling attack. Alongside him are newcomers like Matthew Potts, Brydon Carse, and Ollie Stone, whose overseas Test experience is minimal, potentially adding pressure to the bowling unit. To complicate matters further, Ollie Stone is set to leave on the fifth day of the match for his upcoming wedding.
As both teams prepare for what promises to be a fiercely contested series, Pakistan’s bowling spearhead, Shaheen Afridi, will be eager to capitalize on the conditions, which are likely to assist swing and reverse swing. The home advantage and familiarity with the Multan pitch could give Pakistan the upper hand in the opener, but England’s battling lineup, with stalwarts like Stokes and Root, will ensure that the Green Shirts face a formidable challenge.
The stage is set for a captivating Test series, with both teams seeking victory in this thrilling battle of grit, skill, and strategy.