England Prepares for Final Test in Rawalpindi

Ben Stokes has already faced a setback in Rawalpindi, but it wasn’t on the cricket field. In a six-hitting contest with England coach Brendon McCullum, Stokes found himself outclassed, much like two years ago before their last Test in Pakistan. He jokingly called for an investigation into Paul Collingwood’s questionable throws, which added some humour to the loss. 

The unexpected star of the competition was Rehan Ahmed, who triumphed over Harry Brook in the final round, while Joe Root and Jamie Smith also delivered powerful hits. It’s been a good week for Ahmed, who’s been called back as a third spinner on a pitch drawing significant attention since England's previous Test.

For Pakistan, spin was the key to winning the second Test in Multan, and they aim to replicate that success in the final match, which begins Thursday. Efforts to dry the surface, using industrial fans and heaters, hint at a lot of investment going into preparing the pitch. Intriguingly, the pitch shows signs of being raked or even scraped, suggesting some attempts to make it unpredictable. The general consensus is that the surface will favour batting early on, reducing the toss's importance compared to the second Test. This could benefit England, as they’ve lost seven consecutive tosses.

Stokes said that while the pitch should be good initially, spin would play an increasing role as the game progresses. He acknowledged that Pakistan is using their home conditions to their advantage, especially given their spinners' confidence after their recent win. However, he also expressed optimism that England could capitalise on those same conditions.

The run-up to this final Test has been filled with unusual moments—from six-hitting competitions to a cat making itself comfortable in the Test Match Special commentary box. However, these lighter moments aren’t mirrored by Pakistan’s camp, where tension seems to be building.

Pakistan coach Jason Gillespie mentioned that this was the most relaxed and happy England team he had seen, quite a statement from someone who was part of Australia’s 2005 Ashes loss to England under Michael Vaughan. But while Gillespie praised England’s morale, he seemed concerned about his own side’s situation. Despite their recent victory breaking an 11-match winless streak at home, Pakistan's victory came in an unorthodox way, casting doubts on their approach.

Gillespie revealed that although he had been informed of the Pakistan team lineup, he wasn’t allowed to announce it. He clarified that a new selection panel had taken over, and he no longer played a role in the decision-making process. His focus now is purely on matchday strategy and preparing the players for cricket. When asked if this was the role he had signed up for, he avoided directly answering, saying his job was now just about getting the team ready for matches.

As England prepares to move forward, unified and focused, Pakistan appears to be stepping into uncertain territory. This final Test result carries weight, but regardless of the outcome, England’s attention will quickly shift to their upcoming tour of New Zealand, while Pakistan will have to recalibrate before their Boxing Day Test in South Africa.

The three-match series squad for England is expected after this Test, likely with only one change. Rehan Ahmed, no longer needed as a third spinner, will likely step aside, especially with wicketkeeper Smith set to return home for the birth of his child.

This Test marks the end of England’s four-year journey across Asia, their 17th Test in Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka since 2021. With no plans to return until 2027, the next challenges for England will be the entirely different environments of Australia and South Africa. Repeating their historic overseas win from two years ago would be a fitting end to their time in Pakistan. As Stokes remarked, winning another series in Pakistan would be a significant achievement, making the six-hitting defeat a little easier to bear.