England‘s Surprising Pitch Inspection at Multan Cricket Stadium
In the latest cricket update, England’s cricket team made their first entry into Multan Cricket Stadium, with the English management instructing the ground staff to remove the covers and inspect the pitch in detail. This allowed the visitors access to the pitch before the Pakistani team had the chance to do so.
Preparation for ICC World Test Championship Series
After spending two days and a night in Multan, the English players entered the stadium but remained in their dressing room for quite some time, seemingly preparing themselves to step out into the sunlit stadium. After a 30-minute wait, captain Ben Stokes led his team onto the field, where they started with a light, fast-paced football practice right in front of their dressing room. The session involved more aerial passes than running, with short steps to keep the intensity low. This football practice lasted for about 30 minutes.
England’s coaches were also present during the session. Following the football practice, the players formed a long line for some light jogging and catching drills. Unlike Pakistan’s cricketers, who had run three laps of the ground in the intense heat the previous day and were visibly fatigued, England’s management ensured their players practiced in a more relaxed manner, with batting drills broken into intervals to avoid exhaustion.
Also read:“Zak Crawley Praises Multan’s Conditions, Ready for Pakistan Test Match”
Veteran pacer Jimmy Anderson, eager to inspect the pitch, requested the ground staff to remove the covers from one of the wickets. The staff obliged, and Anderson, along with the other English players and coaches, took a close look at the pitch. Typically, in cricket, the host country reveals the pitch only a day before the match. Meanwhile, another pitch at Multan Cricket Stadium remains covered, and the final decision on which pitch will be used for the match is still pending. After England’s inspection, the ground staff promptly covered the pitch again.
The three-match series, part of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle, is set to begin on October 7.
