Brendon McCullum may believe that only Superman could have saved England from defeat once they found themselves chasing 297 on a turning wicket in the second Test – suggesting at that point they were doomed “save for someone coming out of the telephone box” – but the coach praised Pakistan’s gamble on re-using a tired pitch, describing it as “a good punt”. “I actually don’t mind,” he said. “I think home teams should be allowed to have conditions that suit themselves. I thought they did brilliantly.”
The series now moves to traditionally less spin-friendly Rawalpindi for Thursday’s decider; in seven Tests played there over the past five years seamers have bowled 56% of the deliveries and taken 64% of the wickets. “I don’t know if I’ve seen a turner in Rawalpindi,” said Shan Masood, the Pakistan captain, though the Pakistan Cricket Board’s chief curator, the Australian Tony Hemming, has been there since the start of the week doing his very best to create one.
