Test cricket cannot afford to repeat England’s remarkable victory over Pakistan… the poor pitch offered nothing to anyone and that is not good for the game, writes NASSER HUSSAIN

There will be a lot of talk this week about the fact that the second Test in Multan will be played on the same ground as the first. But let’s be honest: Test cricket cannot afford another game like the one we had last week.

Yes, it turned out to be a memorable victory for England, and the partnership between Joe Root and Harry Brook was exceptional. But for me, the ends don’t justify the means. That was a bad surface: the days of 500 pieces 500, or in this case 550 pieces 820, are over.

There needs to be a balance between bat and ball, and that means the pitch must offer the bowlers something at both ends of the game: movement for the seamers at the start, spin for the spinners at the end. Instead, we had a pitch that offered nothing to anyone for four or so days – and that’s not good for the game.

I know Pakistan collapsed on the fourth night, but that had nothing to do with the pitch: it was a good game of bowling, and Pakistan’s brains were fuzzy after spending so much time chasing the ball in the heat during the first few entries from England. Their old weaknesses in the third round cost them dearly.

So if we can get a more interesting game using the same field again, I have no problem with that. The only thing they need to be careful about is that the cracks that started to appear at the end of the first test don’t turn this game into a lottery on, say, the third day.

Test cricket cannot afford a repeat of England’s remarkable victory against Pakistan

The surface offered nothing for four days and the time for 500 moves 500 has passed

As a batsman, your skill can be tested by swing, seam or spin, and that is how it should be. But if hitting becomes a lottery, with one ball hitting the ground and the next rising, then the skill is removed from the game.

That said, there’s every chance we’ll get another apartment: that’s the nature of pitches here in Multan.

If it happens, this could play into England’s favor because they can field Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir for long periods, and feel more comfortable bringing Ben Stokes back as a third seamer because he can be used in bursts. shorter.

But if the situation is stable, Stokes will have to return as one of the four seamers, which would present a selection dilemma for England.

As for Pakistan, with their new jury, excluding Babar Azam, I think England will not mind that at all.

He’s a little out of control at the moment, but guys like him usually find a way to score runs when the pressure is on.

But the second Test in Multan will be played on the same ground as the first (photo)

The ball is in Pakistan’s court and England could be relaxed with Babar Azam’s absence

If I were in England’s shoes, I would be quite comfortable turning up on Tuesday and finding a Pakistan team without their star batsman.

The bottom line, though, is that Pakistan simply need to play better this week. They didn’t look like they wanted to take 10 wickets in the first Test, let alone 20.

The ball is in their court. We’re about to find out if they’re good enough to stop England from winning the series with one game to go.