England have won the 2nd test and the series against Pakistan with a test to spare. Is this England team for real? It is quite unbelievable. Throughout history, they had won only 2 Tests in Pakistan. Within a fortnight, they have equalled that and with a very good chance of overtaking that effort next week. The mindset change that Ben Stokes and the coach McCullum has infused has done wonders for the team and for the psyche of the general public.
I for one did not think that England were capable of winning the series in Pakistan because Pakistan is the team to whom they have traditionally struggled. Be it in Pakistan or in England. Consider this, Pakistan have won 12 Tests in England as against 4 by England in Pakistan and UAE. It clearly shows that Pakistan for some reason have always managed to get past England quite convincingly. It did not really matter whom Pakistan pick because England have lost series in the UAE against bowlers who are now nowhere to be seen.
Yet, all of that was consumed to the dustbin by this new England outfit who looks quite threatening. This England team looks like they will be able to stretch their dominance across borders. Tougher challenges awaits them in Australia and India but based on the evidence so far, it looks like India and Australia will be in some sort of bother when England come knocking. What stood out in both the tests was England’s willingness to carry on with their new found aggression no matter what the situation was. Throughout the series so far, England have scored their runs at a scarcely believable strike rate of more than 5. This has ensured that their bowlers get enough time to take the required 20 wickets.
Stokes’s belief in Root’s spin
Before the series started, Stokes went on record stating that he wants to use the bowling of Root lot more. He believes that Root has the potential to become a good spinner and to prove Stokes correct, Root did bowl 31 overs to pick up 3 wickets at Multan. This gives the team a great deal of flexibility. If the regular bowlers needs rest, Root is there as a handy option. With Root bowling so many overs, Stokes wasn’t required to run in at all. He didn’t bowl a single over at Multan. This is a rare occurrence. Stokes who always wants to be in the middle of everything, did not bowl a single over. Not even when there was a big partnership between Nawaz and Shakeel that briefly threatened to take the game away from England.
Everyone has contributed to this success. Harry Brook has been a revelation. Couple of hundreds in 4 innings and that too outside of home is a dream come true. Ben Duckett, who a couple of years ago, was unable to cope with the spin of Ashwin, has now covered himself with glory. He has provided flamboyant starts alongwith Crawley. Mark Wood on such placid pitches bowls at more than 145KMPH and the old and wily James Anderson gets better with age. Ollie Robinson, who has serious fitness problems, has played back-to-back games and has not broken down. The only sore note was the lack of runs from the blade of Root. Just one fifty in 4 innings is unRoot like. His record in Asia is exemplary and perhaps he will come into his own in the final game.
Inexperience of playing in Pakistan
The series win will all the more be sweet for England is because of the fact that their last test was in 1999. A whole generation had never been to Pakistan for any game. The current lot though they know what to expect, did not have any experience of playing in Pakistan. Quite a few have not played in Asia at all. In that sense, this England touring party is short on experience and yet, to have won both the tests speaks volumes about their ability.
This series is something McCullum and Stokes will retain in their memory for a very long time. This was their first series outside England after taking over. The world was watching whether their new found passion for aggression will be taken forward in Pakistan. The world wanted to see whether the new England have any substance when taken out of their comfort zone. They have proved everyone wrong. Not only have they taken forward the fast scoring but they have taken that to another level. Even in England their batsmen were much more slower.
Wrapping up is this England team for real?
The Ben Stokes led team have given the English supporters something to cheer about at a time when their football counterparts were able to progress beyond the quarters in the ongoing World Cup. England have already changed the way white ball cricket must be played and they are in the process of changing red ball cricket too. It is easier said than done but the seeds are already laid. After this series, there isn’t any evidence to the contrary that England will abandon their ways.
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