As England trained in the searing heat of Multan for the first time on Friday, their fast bowling coach was battling the cold more than 4,000 miles away in Scotland. James Anderson is spending time playing on St. Andrews’ historic Old Course in this week’s pro-am golf tournament, and his late arrival means new England players are entering unknown waters. Emphasizes the extent to which it exists.
The last time England toured Pakistan, Anderson played a key role in their 3-0 win. He played the first two Tests and took eight wickets at 18:50. Including the ball to Mohammad Rizwan, whom he described as “one of my best”, he doubled as a fast bowling coach for Mark Wood and especially Ollie Robinson. They shared 17 wickets between them.
This was made worse by Anderson’s absence in the build-up to the series. England said he had been in daily contact with their fast bowlers while he was playing in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, but he will not arrive in Pakistan until the second day of the first Test and WhatsApp is no substitute for in-person coaching.
With Ben Stokes a doubt for the first Test, Woakes will be playing his first away Test in two-and-a-half years and likely his first in Asia since 2016. Set his infamous overseas record straight. England’s other four fast bowlers have played just one overseas Test between them.
Atkinson was rested for the white-ball series against Australia in September after suffering a thigh injury in the final Test of the summer, but did bowl in training on Friday. Carse, Potts and Stone have all featured in ODIs, but Pakistan will be learning on the field, even if Stone only played one home match for Multan Sultans in February.
Stone’s own personal circumstances may play a role in his choice of series. He’s planning a wedding three years after his most recent appearance, so he’s getting married next Saturday. If you play in your first Test, you will have to rush home after the play on the fifth day to attend a wedding, and it is highly unlikely that you will be married already. Play it a second time.
Multan is a place that requires quick adjustments both on and off the field. Temperatures reached 40 degrees during England’s first training session on Friday, and while the team is staying in a luxury hotel overlooking the golf course, presidential-level security means they will see little else in the city for the next two years. – Half a week.
No test has been played at the ground since England’s 26-run win two years ago and early indications are that there will be live grass on the ground. “It has a bit of a green tint to it,” Zak Crawley said. “We’ve got two days left, so with this heat it could easily change and it could be very similar to the pitch last time. We’ll wait and see, but it’s definitely a bit green at the moment.”
Crawley became the latest England player to refer to comments made by Pakistan captain Shan Masood before last month’s game against Bangladesh. Masood suggested his team did their best “wherever it helps the fast bowlers”, but staging a lively surface in Rawalpindi backfired with successive defeats.
“Seeing this wicket and hearing what Shan said in the press, I think we might be a little greener this time (than two years ago) and have a little more seam movement,” Crawley said. “We have a very versatile bowling attack with a bit of pace and a bit of skill and I think in this heat the spinners will always do their job.
“(We’ve talked) a little bit about reverse swing. If you sweat it, it’ll be easy, but with that wicket it won’t be much. The square looks pretty green. (Anderson) hasn’t arrived yet, but he’s an absolute master. In situations like this. “He and Lobo were a big reason why we played so well last time, so it will be valuable when he comes out.”
England’s fast bowling attack evolved at lightning speed last year. Anderson and Stuart Broad moved forward and new quick bowlers replaced them in a rotation that focused on seam movement rather than swing. The switch was designed to allow England to compete further away from home. This series is the first real test for the next generation.
