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- Pakistani spinners played key role in their side’s 152-run victory over England in Multan during second Test
- Multan loss meant England have lost as many as five of their last seven Test matches in the subcontinent
ISLAMABAD: England Head Coach Brendon McCullum has backed his side to tackle Pakistan’s spin attack in the upcoming Rawalpindi decider Test next week after the home side cruised to a 152-run victory on Friday.
Pakistan’s radical changes which included dropping star cricketers Babar Azam, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi for spinners Sajid Khan, Nauman Ali, Zahid Mehmood and batter Kamran Ghulam paid off handsomely for the second Test in Multan.
Khan and Ali shared 20 wickets among themselves as Pakistan played on a turning pitch in Multan. Pakistan’s win against England meant Ben Stokes’ side had lost five matches out of the last seven Tests they had played in the subcontinent. England side lost 4-1 on their away tour to India in January this year.
“It’s hard to make that assessment,” McCullum told reporters on Saturday when asked whether English batters had been found out on Multan’s turning track.
“But I know these guys play spin very well. Yes, we’ve been beaten a few times, but we weren’t the only team to go to India and get beaten by India in spinning conditions.”
Pakistan play the third and final Test match of the series in Rawalpindi from Oct. 24-28. Skipper Shan Masood earlier hoped the green shirts would get a turning track in the eastern Pakistani city too, which has historically favored seamers more.
“I don’t know if I’ve seen it turn in Rawalpindi,” Masood said. “That’s another issue. You want a side that can win anywhere… We want to get 20 wickets wherever we play, and we want to back that up with the bat.”