Facing the Heat
England's cricket team is set to face scorching temperatures exceeding 40°C (104°F) during two critical Test matches in Multan, conditions that will heavily influence their strategy for deploying their pace attack.
Head coach Brendon McCullum highlighted that the heat is the most significant difference from their tour two years ago when England secured a 3-0 series victory. He downplayed expectations of repeating such dominance, calling the previous win an "outlier." McCullum also defended the decision to let bowling coach James Anderson skip the start of the series to participate in a golf tournament.
Multan's summer heat lingers, and both teams will be exposed to severe weather conditions that will undoubtedly impact the visiting squad more. October is an unusual month for cricket in Pakistan, as they rarely host matches at home during this time of year, except against Bangladesh, who are familiar with the heat.
This time, the weather is drastically different from England’s December tour two years ago, where fog in the morning was a factor. Now, England faces unrelenting heat, posing a tough challenge for a seam attack with limited experience abroad. Compounding their difficulties, the players have had minimal recovery time after a long summer season at home, which concluded just a week before the tour.
So far, England has held three morning training sessions, avoiding the intense afternoon heat, except for some time on the golf course. Player safety is a concern, especially after Matt Potts was hospitalised two years ago with dizziness and vomiting due to heat exhaustion in 37°C during an ODI match in Durham. Joe Root also had a similar experience in Sydney in 2018 when dehydration in 42°C heat, coupled with a virus, worsened his condition, prompting calls for cricket to establish a heat policy to protect players.
Potts only bowled four overs in Durham, but the demands of a Test match, where bowlers often endure three or four spells a day, will be far greater. Captain Ollie Pope must carefully manage the workloads of 35-year-old Chris Woakes, who hasn't played a Test overseas in the Bazball era, as well as debutant Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson, who suffered an injury during the Oval Test just a month ago.
McCullum noted the intense heat compared to their last visit, where temperatures were much cooler. He shared that the players had acclimatised somewhat, sweating less than they initially did, and pinpointed the importance of smartly rotating the bowlers to maintain energy levels and core temperatures.
Anderson is expected to join the team on the second day of the first Test after competing in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland. Despite missing the opening week of the tour, McCullum assured that Anderson remains in close contact with the squad and was allowed to balance his professional and personal life. He added that Anderson's late arrival wouldn't significantly impact the team.
England’s previous 3-0 victory was a historic moment, marking the first time Pakistan had been whitewashed on home soil. Pakistan's captain, Shan Masood, recently referred to England as "pioneers" and acknowledged that their aggressive playing style, known as Bazball, had influenced the global game.
However, McCullum remains grounded, acknowledging that the previous win was extraordinary but not easily replicable. He cautioned that the upcoming series would be far more challenging, as history shows few teams have succeeded in Pakistan under such conditions.
Joe Root is on the verge of breaking records in the first Test against Pakistan, needing just 71 more runs to surpass Sir Alastair Cook as England’s all-time leading run-scorer in Test cricket. While Root’s consistency is essential to England's chances, the outcome of the series will depend heavily on the performance of their bowlers over the next three weeks.
New Bowling Strategy
The seam attack that led England to victory in the previous series looks very different now. James Anderson has transitioned into a coaching role, Ollie Robinson has been dropped due to unfulfilled promises, and Mark Wood is injured. Despite previous challenges overseas, England is placing their hopes on Chris Woakes to lead the bowling unit, despite his bowling average of 51.88 on foreign pitches.
Woakes hasn’t played a Test in Asia since 2016 and has battled injuries in recent years. Now 35, he faces a gruelling task in the heat of Multan, having had little time to adjust after England’s autumn. Brydon Carse, a tall bowler who hits the pitch hard and can reach speeds of 90mph, will bring much-needed aggression, although his inexperience may lead to expensive spells. Meanwhile, Gus Atkinson, close to Robinson in skill but faster, will make his overseas Test debut, showing promising form despite a recent thigh injury.
England’s pace-bowling strategy, as revealed by Telegraph Sport, is a detailed plan that emphasises speed. Research shows that slower bowlers take longer to claim wickets on Pakistan's flat pitches, while faster bowlers, like Atkinson and Carse, achieve quicker breakthroughs. England’s focus will be on seam rather than swing, with all their bowlers having mastered the wobble-seam technique that Anderson used so effectively during the previous tour.
Field Will Add to the Challenge
Captain Ben Stokes’ leadership was pivotal to England’s success in taking 20 wickets on each of the three flat Pakistan pitches two years ago. His dynamic approach sped up matches, and this time, the team will learn not only about their young seamers but also about Pope, who will need to prove himself after a disappointing performance in the third Test against Sri Lanka.
Stokes expressed optimism for the bowling unit, praising Woakes for leading the attack and commending Carse and Atkinson for their strong recent performances. He noted that playing in the harsh conditions of Pakistan will be a significant test of character, but he is confident that the team will rise to the challenge.
Masood, seeking assistance for his bowlers, has requested that the groundsmen prepare pitches to aid Pakistan’s seamers. However, any initial green tinge on the surface is unlikely to last long under the scorching sun, and the outfield’s lush grass will make it difficult to generate reverse swing. England’s Jack Leach, returning for his first Test since January, will aim to reclaim his spot as the team’s top spinner.
Multan presents significant challenges for visiting teams, with high-security measures confining players to their hotels unless escorted by armed guards. The next few weeks promise to be a test of endurance for England, but the experience will offer valuable insights into the strength of their bowling attack ahead of future tours, including the Ashes.