Pakistan’s long-awaited victory in the second Test against England at Multan marked a dramatic shift in their home Test strategy. This win, which ended a remarkable 11-game winless streak, was achieved on a pitch specifically designed to aid spin, a significant departure from their previous approach of preparing flat wickets. The decision to prioritize spin stemmed from a humiliating innings defeat in the first Test, where England amassed a record-breaking total despite Pakistan’s own impressive 556-run first innings score.
For the past five years, Pakistan has favored batting-friendly pitches, leading to a rise in high scores and drawn matches. While this strategy initially yielded positive results, with Pakistan hosting numerous high-scoring matches and attracting a large number of centuries, it also resulted in a decline in their win ratio. This trend can be attributed to the fact that both home and away batters have benefited from the flat, unresponsive pitches, while the lack of assistance for bowlers has resulted in a significant increase in drawn matches.
The move towards spin-friendly pitches was a conscious decision by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to address their struggles against fast-bowling teams, particularly Australia. The attempt to negate Australia’s pace attack by preparing flat wickets backfired, as England, in their subsequent tour, also capitalized on the favorable batting conditions to clinch a 3-0 series win.
The flat wickets not only hampered Pakistan’s pace bowlers like Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah but also deprived their spinners of any significant advantage. This inadvertently created a scenario where Pakistan was caught in its own trap, struggling to find a winning formula on the pitches they had meticulously crafted. The flat, unresponsive pitches, while beneficial for scoring runs, also robbed the game of excitement, a sentiment echoed by former coach Mickey Arthur.
While Pakistan’s batting unit, led by Babar Azam, struggled to convert home advantage into wins, the team’s inability to find an effective bowling strategy on these flat pitches added further woes. The lack of spin-friendly conditions also negatively impacted the performance of their spinners, making it challenging to contain non-subcontinental teams.
The Multan Test victory signifies a potential turning point for Pakistan. The team’s decision to shift from a pace-centric approach to a spin-based strategy proved to be successful, with the spin duo of Sajid Khan and Noman Ali claiming all 20 English wickets in the match.
This move, although initially met with criticism and viewed as a desperate attempt to salvage their home Test record, has brought about a much-needed change in the team’s approach. It remains to be seen if this newfound emphasis on spin will lead to a sustained period of success for Pakistan in Test cricket, but it certainly signals a fresh chapter in their quest to reclaim their home advantage and establish themselves as a formidable force in the longest format of the game.
