England’s head coach, Brendon McCullum, expressed his surprise at how long it took Pakistan to adopt spinning wickets to counter his team’s aggressive batting style. In a post-match interview with a British broadcaster, he remarked that he was surprised it had taken Pakistan so long to play on such surfaces, highlighting their effectiveness.
This sentiment has been echoed by both former and current players, as Pakistan continued to favor flat wickets, including during the first Test in Multan, which benefited the visiting team. This decision ultimately contributed to Babar Azam losing his position on the team and led to changes in the selection committee, with Aaqib Javed now directing the preparation of pitches that align with Pakistan’s strengths.
Read more: Pakistan Defeats England to Claim Test Series Victory
The reused wicket in Multan and the much-discussed pitch in Rawalpindi yielded positive results for the home team, with spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali leading Pakistan to comfortable victories in each match. The series win marked Pakistan’s first since 2023 and their first at home since 2021, with McCullum quickly acknowledging the credit due to the Pakistan side for their performance.
McCullum praised the outstanding bowling of spinners Noman and Sajid, commending their bravery in making personnel and surface decisions. With the recent struggles surrounding Pakistan’s performance at home, it seems likely that the team will continue with this successful strategy when they host the West Indies next year.
