Pakistan are reportedly set to re-use the same Multan wicket on which England scored 823-7 in the first Test for the second Test of the series as well. Here's why.
In the first Test in Multan, Pakistan batted first and posted 556 in the first innings, before England went on to score 823-7, Test cricket's fourth-highest score of all time. The hosts then collapsed to 220 all out in their second innings to become the first team ever to score 500 in the first innings and lose by an innings.
Pakistan set to re-use Multan pitch for second Test
The match was dominated by discussions around the pitch, which many felt was unsuitable for Test cricket as it was flat and offered virtually nothing for the bowlers. Michael Atherton, on Sky Sports commentary, described it as "shocking". Two days out from the second Test at the same venue, the pitch is set to be re-used.
There are no rules against this, but it is an unconventional move. Even when Test matches are scheduled back-to-back at the same venue, the usual practice is to use a different pitch as the one used earlier would have deteriorated over the five days of play.
But in the first Test, the wicket remained more or less even over the course of the match, and was good for batting even on days four and five, with only minimal deterioration. However, there were signs of cracks opening and bounce becoming uneven towards the end of the game, with left-arm spinner Jack Leach also finding success in the second innings.
England bowling consultant James Anderson told the BBC, "Going off the last game, we did see it go up and down - mainly down - towards the back end. The cracks started opening up. I'm no groundsman, but I don't think you can make cracks go back together that easily, certainly in three days. You'd expect it to do something off the cracks and with it being dry and hot again, you'd expect the spinners to play more of a part."
Will re-using the pitch help Pakistan take 20 wickets?
By re-using the pitch, Pakistan are hoping that it provides more assistance to the bowlers, at an earlier stage of the contest. As cracks had appeared towards the end of the first Test, it is possible they could come into play on day one or day two of the second Test, which begins on October 15.
This is likely to benefit the spinners primarily, providing them with grip on an already dry surface. The cracks are also likely to assist unpredictable amounts of turn and bounce, making it more difficult for the batters.
Read more: Reports: Babar Azam to be dropped for second Test against England
On the surface, this is a reactionary move to England's attacking style with the bat. The majority of the visitors' batters are adept at picking up length and hitting through the line, meaning on flatter wickets like in the first Test, dislodging them can become an uphill task.
In addition, Pakistan's bowlers quickly looked bereft of ideas once the new ball stopped swinging, and there was no help from the wicket. In slightly more difficult batting conditions, they may stand a better chance of taking 20 wickets. A wicket assisting spinners could also allow them to bowl the quicker bowlers less often, thereby reducing the already-high workload on frontline pacers Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah.
Do Pakistan have the bowlers for a spinning wicket?
However, a more spin-friendly surface does raise the question of what Pakistan's attack will look like. Their first-choice spinner, Abrar Ahmed, was hospitalised due to a fever and missed days four and five of the first Test. His fitness is still in question.
Salman Ali Agha and part-timer Saim Ayub were used in the first Test, but Pakistan will still need at least one specialist spinner to be part of the attack. The squad for the second Test has not been announced yet, but Sajid Khan was involved in their tour of Australia earlier this year and could be recalled. The uncapped Mehran Mumtaz could also be called up, but that would be a more risky move, while leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood spent time with the team in a training camp ahead of the series.
Also read: Kevin Pietersen points to 'flawed system' in Pakistan cricket following Multan mauling
All in all, the re-using of the wicket seems to be a move geared towards making life more difficult for England's free-scoring batters, but could also end up playing into the visitors' hands. They have two clear spinning options in Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir who could exploit favorable conditions, and it would allow them to re-introduce captain Ben Stokes with a lower bowling workload. For now, only time will tell how it works out.
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