McCullum Reflects on England’s Series Defeat

England’s head coach, Brendon McCullum, admitted his team had “no excuses” after their 2-1 series loss to Pakistan, highlighted by back-to-back defeats in Multan and Rawalpindi. He was, however, surprised that Pakistan waited until the second Test to create spin-friendly pitches, which have often been England’s weakness on subcontinental tours.

In the first Test on a flat Multan pitch, England dominated with a powerful 823 for 7 declared, their fourth-highest Test total, inspired by Harry Brook’s career-best 317. Pakistan, stung by the loss, revamped both their selection panel and pitch strategy. With the use of industrial fans and heaters, they prepared spinning surfaces that allowed Sajid Khan and Noman Ali to capture 39 of England’s next 40 wickets. This strategic shift left England struggling, managing just 814 runs across their last four innings.

This result is a significant reversal from England’s 3-0 triumph in Pakistan two years ago and follows their 4-1 series loss in India in February. The outcome means that England, once on a winning streak under Stokes and McCullum in Asia, have now lost six of their last seven matches.

Speaking after the nine-wicket defeat, McCullum acknowledged England’s missed chances and gave credit to Pakistan’s impressive spin duo. He noted that Noman and Sajid were “superb,” showcasing partnership bowling with variations in pace that England’s batsmen couldn’t withstand.

When asked about Pakistan’s tactics—such as reusing the pitch from the first Test and raking the Rawalpindi surface to maximise spin—McCullum expressed his appreciation for Pakistan’s boldness. He observed that teams travelling to England often encounter surfaces tailored to suit English strengths, and he supported Pakistan’s decision to create conditions advantageous to their players. “Every team naturally plays to its strengths,” he said, “and Pakistan took some brave decisions here.”

McCullum admitted to being surprised that it took Pakistan so long to shift to spinning pitches. Reflecting on England’s performance, he conceded that while the team adapted well initially, they struggled when the conditions changed, a missed opportunity they will need to learn from. He voiced confidence in the current batting group, which has been together for 18 months, and pointed out the importance of allowing players the time to develop.

Attention also turned to England’s spinners, particularly Shoaib Bashir and Jack Leach, who were less effective than their Pakistani counterparts. Bashir, selected for his potential rather than experience, has bowled more Test overs than any other player in 2024 but fell short with nine wickets at an average of 49.66, compared to Sajid’s 19 at 21.10. McCullum praised Sajid and Noman’s teamwork and acknowledged that England’s spin attack needs to reflect on how they can respond better to similar conditions in the future.

McCullum pointed out the importance of learning from this series, especially as England will inevitably face spin-friendly conditions again. He pointed out that while the pursuit of improvement is crucial, seeking perfection is unrealistic in a game full of unpredictability. He concluded that the series offered valuable lessons, both positive and negative, that would strengthen England’s foundation for future success on spinning pitches.