Nasser Hussain and Pakistan Team. (Source – Getty Images)
Nasser Hussain opined that Pakistan will not be able to achieve long-term success by playing on used pitches where their spinners can get the better of the opposition. The second Test between Pakistan and England was played on the same pitch which hosted the first at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan. The hosts won an important toss and opted to bat first. As the used pitch continued to crumble, life became difficult for the batters and the England batters, who had to bat last, couldn’t handle the relentless pressure exerted by spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan.
Eventually, England were dismissed for 144 in their second innings as Pakistan won by 152 runs to end an 11-match winless streak at home. This win also helped Shan Masood and Co. to restore parity in the three-match series. All 20 English wickets fell to Noman and Sajid as the Pakistani spin duo used the conditions to their advantage.
“You cannot tell me that last week was better viewing than this week, you cannot tell me if you are a local in this part of the world that you are going to come in during 40-degree heat and watch 560 play 800. You are going to come in and watch your side play and win on a pitch that offers something,” Hussain told Sky Sports at the end of the match.
“This cannot be the template for future cricket in Pakistan, keep playing on the same surface. But they do need to take a look at their surfaces, and if they find a winning formula – stick with it. Stick with this squad, stick with these two spinners, stick with the batting lineup, stick with the selectors and the captain. Have some kind of consistency. Pakistan Test match cricket needed this week,” Hussain added.
When you’re playing at home, you should have home advantage: Brendon McCullum
England head coach Brendon McCullum wasn’t too perturbed with Pakistan reusing the pitch as he was okay with the hosts taking home advantage.
“I don’t mind [the pitch], actually. I quite like the quirk of it. When you’re playing at home, you should have home advantage. I guess after the first Test match, we were able to go 1-0 up something had to give, and they took a punt on it. I don’t have a problem with it at all,” McCullum said after the match.
Pakistan’s victory sets things up nicely for the third and final Test, which takes place at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi, starting on Thursday, October 24.