By The Telegraph (World News) | Created at 2024-10-24 06:15:45 | Updated at 2024-10-24 08:24:35
2 hours ago
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the third Test between Pakistan and England in Rawalpindi. The last time England played on this ground, in 2022, it took every last bit of Ben Stokes’s IQ to manufacture a positive result. This time Stokes’s brain has been replaced by patio heaters and giant fans.
Pakistan’s newfound respect for Bunsen burners means there will almost certainly be a result in this third Test and therefore the series. Stokes is going to have a busy few days, as captain, bowler and hopefully batter, but his most significant contribution could well occur before the game starts. If the pitch is anything like what we expect, this will be a huge toss to win.
England have lost their last seven tosses, their worst run since 2000-01, and this would be a very good team to end that run. They were in relaxed mood yesterday, enjoying a six-hitting competition that was won by Rehan Ahmed.
“Rehan wasn’t the odds-on favourite but he was happy to walk away with the trophy,” said Stokes. “It was the last training session of a long tour, we just tried to change it up and get the good vibes going. It’s been Groundhog Day over and over again, cricket ground and hotel, cricket ground and hotel. we just tried to change it up.”
Rehan is one of two changes to the side that lost in Multan, with Gus Atkinson also returning. Matthew Potts and a weary Brydon Carse miss out. Pakistan are unchanged, which means both sides have three specialist spinners. Zahid Mehmood, the ghost at the Multan feast, will hope to see a bit more action this time.
England will hope so too. If Mehmood is bowling it means they won’t have been shredded by Sajid Khan and Noman Ali. And when Mehmood made his Test debut against England on this ground two years ago – admittedly on a very different surface – he conceded 319 runs from 44 overs.
The match starts at 6am BST, with the all-important toss at 5.30am.
