It was 22 years since England last visited Karachi, and Nasser Hussain’s team pinched the spoils in the dark from under Pakistan’s noses.
Circumstances are different today, but the stakes remain high. A victory for Ben Stokes’ team would make them the first to leave this country with a 3-0 win, and further cement Bazball legend.
It’s one thing to wrap up a one-game series, in the process doubling England’s tally of wins in Pakistan since their first trip 61 years ago. But the whitewash ranks among the best results of any visitor to any part of Asia.
England can make history with a third victory over Pakistan having won the first two games
Stokes referred to the 3-0 win in Sri Lanka four years ago, when England’s ‘total cricket’ was as adventurous as things got under Joe Root. But he knows that the same scoreline here will trump that, and provide the perfect end to a Test year in which England have been revolutionaries.
For their next trick, they are set to bring in Leicestershire leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed, who at 18 years 126 days will become England’s youngest Test debutant – 23 days younger than Brian Close when he played against New Zealand at Old Trafford in 1949.
Ahmed’s prospects of a first cap improved as Pakistan wanted to help their own Ahmed, mystery spinner Abrar, who took 11 wickets on debut in Multan. Despite the excellence of their captain and batting talisman Babar Azam, Abrar feel their most likely route to a consolation victory.
England’s Ahmed, meanwhile, has played just three first-class matches, but Stokes and Brendon McCullum like what they have seen, with Stokes boosting his all-round credentials by claiming he is unsure whether how to categorize him: a leggie or a batter? Ahmed’s 10-ball 26 for the Lions against the senior side at the pre-tour camp in Abu Dhabi clearly left an impression.
Youngster Rehan Ahmed is set to step into the fray for the final match against Pakistan
‘I don’t think it’s going to be a case of giving away caps,’ Stokes said. We chose him in the squad not only because of his talent, but because we thought it would be a good opportunity to play him if we felt it was necessary.
‘Having a wrist-spinner is always exciting, especially for England, but it doesn’t really take away from the potential he has. You still have to look after the talent, no matter how exciting it is.’
If Ahmed plays, it may not be good news for Will Jacks, who took a six-for in his off-breaks on debut in Rawalpindi, but was lost in Multan, where he bowled eight wicketless overs. That would allow Ahmed to slot in at No 7. A century in his most recent first-class knock, against Derbyshire in September, means he has nothing to fear.
No matter how much the pitch turns, England will not be surprised, winning on the flattest ground imaginable in Rawalpindi, and overcoming the challenge posed by Abrar in Multan.
Ahmed will become the youngest player to appear for England in Test cricket
They have taken all 10 wickets in each innings so far under Stokes and McCullum, and will aim to finish the year with a ninth win in 10 – their best sequence since 2004.
‘The confidence these two games have given our seam bowlers in particular is massive,’ Stokes said. ‘I don’t think there was any stage where we drifted as a bowling unit, which sometimes we might have done in the past.
‘And I wasn’t the only one who came up with ideas on how to take wickets. Everyone comes up to me, saying try this, try that.’
All the while, he has squeezed performances from 40-year-old Jimmy Anderson – so he has averaged less than 18 since Stokes took over, the lowest figure for any of his eight England captains during a career back. almost 20 years.
With Joe Root this week celebrating a decade as a Test cricketer, Stokes gets the best of two of England’s all-time greats.
Ben Stokes spoke volumes about England’s chances ahead of the third game in Pakistan
‘I don’t know how much time Rooty has left, but I don’t see him stopping anytime soon,’ he said. ‘Jimmy is an incredible example for me and Rooty, being 40 and playing 177 Tests – that’s serious stuff. We don’t know how he does it. But I can see Joe playing for something similar to Jimmy.
‘His body management in particular is very good – he knows what he needs to be ready for. He has taken good care of himself these last five years, which allows him to still play. Maybe when I get to 35, I’ll ask him what he’s doing.’
Right now, England will want to take advantage of Pakistan’s fragile confidence, and win again at a venue where the hosts have lost just twice in 44 Tests, including Hussain’s match.
And if they can keep Australia on their toes ahead of next summer’s Ashes, Stokes won’t be unhappy either. The Australians recently placed a written note on their dressing-room window during the Adelaide Test against the West Indies. It read ‘Ronball’ – a tribute to their coach Andrew McDonald’s nickname.
Stokes has spoken of his desire to keep Australia on their toes ahead of next summer’s Ashes
‘We must be setting a trend for having a coach with a “ball” behind it,’ joked Stokes. ‘It’s natural, I guess, when we’re playing, it’s also talked about outside of our group.
‘Ronball doesn’t quite roll off the tongue as well as Bazball,’ he said. ‘Even if Baz doesn’t want to.’
Success in Karachi, and all will be forgiven.
