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Returning England captain Ben Stokes has no qualms about Pakistan’s use of home advantage for this week’s second Test, after the hosts packed their side with spinners on a used pitch in Multan.
Stokes missed England’s stunning innings victory in the series opener as he completed his recovery from a torn hamstring but will lead his team out again on Tuesday, when the game will begin on exactly the same surface.
Re-using a strip that hosted more than 350 overs in the past few days is a highly eccentric, but entirely legal, move by the home board and a naked attempt to shift conditions back in their favour.
Having been second best on a flat, batting pitch they are banking on enough wear and tear for the ball to turn early and often, overhauling their attack to feature three specialist spin bowlers as well as two part-timers.
England have resisted the temptation to add a third slow option in the form of leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed, instead swapping out Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson for Stokes and Matthew Potts, the latter pair joining Brydon Carse in an all-Durham pace unit.
And, while Stokes was clearly surprised by the pitch gambit, he has taken the twist in good spirits.
“It’s the first time ever I’ve played on a used wicket in a Test series. It could be a tactic,” he said.
“But I think if we went 1-0 down at home, we would probably be going to our groundsman at the second Test saying, ‘can we have a bit more of this and a bit more of that’ to use home advantage in our favour.
“We could sit here and say ‘it’s going to do this, it’s going to do that’ but who knows? A used pitch brings a lot more into the game for both teams, actually. If it does spin more, if it does reverse more, there’s more options there for both teams.”
Despite the unusual circumstances, Stokes was pleased to have his name back on the England team-sheet after nine weeks on the shelf. He missed four Tests while he worked his way back, Ollie Pope overseeing a 2-1 victory over Sri Lanka and last week’s record-breaking win in the Punjab.
Stokes indicated he had not been willing to disrupt the balance of the side to play as a specialist batter at number six and will instead resume his work as an all-rounder.
Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir, who turned 21 between Tests, will be expected to do the bulk of the bowling but Stokes insists his rehabilitation period has left him stronger than ever.
“I’d written a few teams down with me not bowling and it just didn’t work,” he admitted.
“It’s obviously got to be sensible but I’m playing as a third seamer. I’m available to bowl and when I sense the time is right for me to maybe come on and make an impact, there won’t be any doubts in my mind that I can come on and bowl.
“I’ve had a fair few injuries, it’s part of what we do, part of how I play cricket but I like to keep a positive mindset.
“Not only do I have a goal of getting my body back into a state of being able to play but I also have an individual goal of making sure I’m physically fitter than when I got injured. I’ve put myself through a fitness test over the last couple of days and come through that pretty well.”
Stokes also noted a significant moment for his county, whose reputation as a production line of pace for the English game has been built around names like Steve Harmison, Mark Wood, Graham Onions and Liam Plunkett as well at the current trio of Stokes, Carse and Potts.
“I’m not slowly eking all of the Durham team in, don’t worry worry about that!” he joked.
“But it’s going to be a proud moment for the club, looking at things like that. Durham have a great record of producing England cricketers, in particular fast bowlers.”
