Pacer Gus Atkinson will return to the team after being dropped for the second Test, while, Brydon Carse and Matthew Potts will both miss the series decider.
England announce playing XI for third Test against Pakistan. England have confirmed their XI for the third Test against Pakistan, which is set to commence on Thursday (October 24) in Rawalpindi.
There are two changes from the second Test in Multan. Seamer Gus Atkinson returns and leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed is named for the first time since the Test match against India in Rajkot back in February. Durham pair Brydon Carse and Matthew Potts both miss out.
England’s XI for the third Test:
1. Zak Crawley
2. Ben Duckett
3. Ollie Pope
4. Joe Root
5. Harry Brook
6. Ben Stokes (C)
7. Jamie Smith
8. Gus Atkinson
9. Rehan Ahmed
10. Jack Leach
11. Shoaib Bashir
Last week, Noman Ali and Sajid Khan shared all 20 England wickets among them as Pakistan marched to their first Test match win at home since February 2021 as England crumbled to 144 all out in 33.3 overs while chasing the 297-run target on day four here at the Multan Cricket Stadium.
Noman finished with innings figures of 8-46, the second-best figures on Pakistan soil after Abdul Qadir’s 9-56 against the same opposition in Lahore in 1987, and match figures of 11-147. Fellow spinner Sajid Khan bagged nine wickets in the match to help bowl Pakistan to a 152-run series-levelling victory in the second Test.
Espncricinfo reported on Monday that Pakistan is using industrial sized fans, windbreakers, and outdoor heaters in an attempt to dry out the surface at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, which will end up benefitting spin bowling. Traditionally, seam bowlers have fared better on the surface.
