The switch from placid, dry tracks to green, seaming conditions is one of the toughest for a sub-continental team and Pakistan have led the way in breaking stereotypes and pushing the hosts in England.
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Since the start of 2010, Pakistan have won four of the 13 Tests they have played in England while also playing out two draws. It gives them a win to loss ratio of 0.571 that’s second only to South Africa among other visiting sides in the country. India, on the other hand, have lost 11 of their 14 Test matches in England despite being one of the strongest Test sides of the last decade. Pakistan have drawn two of their last three series in England, whereas India have lost three in a row.
As they embark on another England sojourn – the chance to be crowned the title winners of the first World Test Championship adding extra oomph to this tour – India could do well to take a few leaves from Pakistan’s manual in England.
The luxury of great quicks
Pakistan’s swing and seam bowlers, needless to say, have been a huge part of their success in England. From the exciting Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif to the niggly Mohammad Abbas, Pakistan have found bowlers with the skills to keep England’s batsmen on their toes.
Since the start of 2010, the Pakistani quicks have had better success in England – average of 31.8 in the country as a combined pace attack – than in other SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia) countries.
Importantly, individual performances have also soared. They have taken six five-wicket hauls in England in the last decade, two more than in any other country.
Role of spinners
But this recipe is too well-known for any team to not know or use – having good quicks is always advisable in England and the Indian team has one of the best pace attacks going around in world cricket at the moment. Where their ultimate success could lie is in using their strength on sub-continental wickets – the spinners.
As much as the quicks, Pakistan have shown that spinners can play a major role in Tests in England despite the conditions. Right from the early ’90s to the 2000s and 2010s, Pakistan’s big spinners – the likes of Mushtaq Ahmed, Saqlain Mushtaq and Yasir Shah – have done well in England to complement the quicks.
Since the start of 2010, Pakistan’s spinners have taken three five-wicket hauls in England, the most taken by spinners from any country. Their bowling average is behind New Zealand and Australia, but the strike-rate is nearly as good – missing out by a few decimal points – to that of South Africa’s spinners.
The change in position based on average and strike-rate suggests Pakistan have had spinners who have attacked more while not being overly concerned about leaking runs.
The middle-order batsmen
India have had famed middle-order batters touring England in the last decade and it’s fair to say they have had as good a middle-order as Pakistan, if not better. However, this strength is restricted to the top half of the middle-order with the lower belly of the batting order often standing out like a sore thumb – this is backed up the numbers too.
Since the start of 2010, India’s No.5 – No.7 batting positions average 24.43 in England, the worst after Bangladesh if you exclude the one-off Test Ireland played in 2019. Pakistan’s batsmen at the same positions average 28.05, only slightly better, but significantly important considering how quickly the narrative can change in a Test match.
It’s easier for India to replicate Pakistan’s success here than for Pakistan to try and match India’s. Pakistan’s top four do not have great numbers in the country while India’s has done significantly better. If the likes of Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja can back up the Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli, India could pose a stiff challenge.
The threat of the first Test
The biggest challenge of away tours is the very first Test of a series that can often decide the course of the entire tour. In 2018, India came to England after a tough South African tour earlier in the year and sat Pujara out, going on to lose by 31 runs at Edgbaston. By the time India won the third Test, the series had already tilted 2-1 in favour of England and they were playing catch up.
Pakistan’s series record in England against the hosts since the start of 2010 shows two drawn series amidst two losses. In both the lost series (2010 and 2020), they lost the first Test.
In 2016 and 2018, when they drew the series, Pakistan won the first Test of the series to push England onto the backfoot early on in the series.
Starting the series off well is always advisable, and India will come in with strong practice behind them, with the World Test Championship final being their first Test on this tour.
