Pakistan is pulling out all the stops as they prepare for the crucial Test series decider against England, scheduled to be played from 24 October at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
With the series level and everything to play for, Pakistan’s ground staff have taken some pretty creative steps to ensure the pitch favours spin. We’re talking about industrial-sized fans, outdoor heaters, and windbreakers—all aimed at drying out the usually flat and lifeless Rawalpindi pitch.
The Spin Gamble: Will It Pay Off?
Rawalpindi is known for being one of the flattest tracks in the game, offering minimal help to spinners. In fact, since 2019, spinners have averaged close to 50 runs per wicket there—not exactly a spinner’s paradise.
But this time, the PCB seems determined to change that narrative. After Pakistan’s impressive win in Multan, where Noman Ali and Sajid Khan spun their way to glory, the team clearly wants more of the same.
In Multan, Pakistan made a bold move by reusing the same pitch from the first Test, and it worked like a charm. Now, they’re hoping to replicate that success by drying out the Rawalpindi surface, giving their spinners another chance to shine.
Bazball vs. Pakistan’s Spin Attack
England, led by the always upbeat head coach Brendon McCullum, seems ready for whatever Pakistan throws at them. McCullum even predicted that Rawalpindi would be “the antithesis of a green seamer.”
Translation: England’s seamers probably won’t have much fun this week. Pakistan’s bowlers, on the other hand, are hoping for another spin-friendly surface to tip the balance in their favour.
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But this isn’t just about spin vs. pace. It’s also a battle of cricketing philosophies. England’s aggressive “Bazball” approach—where they look to dominate and take the game to the opposition—will be tested once again. The question is, can their batters adjust to conditions that might be heavily skewed in favour of Pakistan’s spinners?
The Rawalpindi Pitch
As of Sunday, groundstaff had set up heaters and giant fans to dry the pitch, with windbreakers strategically placed to keep the heat in. By Monday, only the fans remained, as Pakistan’s players checked out the surface during their training session.
The heat from the fans is designed to suck the moisture out of the wicket, leaving it dry and likely to crumble as the game wears on—perfect conditions for spinners to do their magic.
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This pitch transformation isn’t just about giving Pakistan’s spinners an edge, though. England’s seamers used reverse swing to great effect in the Multan Test, but the conditions in Rawalpindi might not offer the same opportunities.
A grassy square and a lush outfield could prevent them from getting the ball to reverse, making it an even bigger challenge for the English bowlers.
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