NEWSReturning England captain Ben Stokes said on Monday, October 14 he hopes a reused pitch for the second Test against Pakistan in Multan will play into the tourists' hands rather than the spin-heavy hosts.
In a rare move, Pakistan – who have now gone winless in 11 home Tests since February 2021 – decided to use the same flat surface on which England piled up 823-7 declared in reply to their 556 all out.
Desperate to level the three-match series after an innings and 47-run defeat on Friday, Pakistan also named three spinners in four changes from the first Test.
"It's the first time I will ever be playing on a used pitch in a Test series,” said Stokes, back in the side after missing the first Test with a hamstring injury.
“I think we could sit here and say, 'it's going to do this, it's going to do that', but who knows? You'd like to think it's going to offer the spinners a bit more than it did last week with it being used and hot. It is a slightly drier square, so you might see a little more reverse swing, which will bring seamers into the game.
"If you look at the way that the first Test played out if another wicket like that was produced, maybe that gives us more of an advantage."
Despite the first-innings run-fest – with Harry Brook smashing 317 and Joe Root making 262 -- England bowled out Pakistan for 220 in their second innings to secure a remarkable victory.
England left out seamers Gus Atkinson and Chris Woakes to bring in Matthew Potts and Stokes but kept the same spinners in Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir.
"You'd like to think it might be a bit more in favour of the spin, so if it does spin more, or if it does reverse more, there's more options there for both teams," added Stokes.
The all-rounder, who may not yet be fit to bowl, said he has never seen such a strategy before.
"It could be a tactic but I've never seen a pitch before used in back-to-back games. And I've never seen fans that big standing as umpires," he said, referring to two big industrial fans at both ends being used to dry the pitch.
Since Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum took over in May 2022, England have played aggressive cricket, with only one draw.
"I think if we went 1-0 down at home, we would probably be going to our groundsman at the second Test saying 'can we have a bit more of this, bit more of that' to use our home advantage in our favour.
"With me being captain and Baz being coach, that's how we both view cricket, that there should be a winner."
Stokes suffered the injury two months ago and missed the three-match home series against Sri Lanka and last week's first Test, which the visitors won by an innings.
"Look, it's obviously got to be sensible," said talismanic all-rounder Stokes on Monday after he was declared fit, having been bowling in the nets since before the first Test.
"I'm obviously playing as a third seamer. I'm available to bowl, and obviously, when I sense the time is right for me to maybe come on and make an impact, there won't be any doubts in my mind that I can come on and bowl."
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