Cricket

Jack Leach's omission from England's Test squad during the home summer proved to be a catalyst for his rediscovery of his love for cricket. A timely phone call from Ben Stokes after a Test win reinforced his belief in his abilities.Leach, now England's leading wicket-taker in Pakistan with 14, had played only two Tests in the 18 months prior to the tour. Despite regaining fitness after knee surgery, he was overlooked for Shoaib Bashir in England's first Test of the summer.However, Stokes' call reassured Leach that his performances had not gone unnoticed. "He just wanted to tell me how great I was," Leach recalled. "That gave me confidence I still had something to offer the team."Leach admitted to initial fears about his England career, but praised the communication from management. He also received a call from Brendon McCullum, further bolstering his confidence.After a slow start to the season, Leach rediscovered his form with Somerset, taking 36 wickets at 15.86 in five matches. He attributed his success to embracing his strengths and enjoying the game."I just felt like I needed to rediscover that kid-like mentality of why you play the game," Leach said. "I've discovered that again: just being myself, and actually really enjoying that."In Pakistan, Leach has outbowled Bashir, but insists that reclaiming his status as first-choice spinner is not his priority. "For me, it's all about the team," he said.The series decider in Rawalpindi presents another opportunity for Leach to shine on a turning pitch. Two years ago, he played a pivotal role in England's famous victory at the same venue."That's probably my favorite wicket," Leach said. "It was just such a good game to be part of." England will hope for a similar performance from Leach as they aim to secure a 2-1 series win.

Pakistan's quest for a decisive victory in the Test series against England has intensified as they meticulously prepare a spinning pitch at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Determined to replicate their success in the second Test, where spinners dominated, Pakistan has employed unconventional methods to dry out the surface.Industrial-sized fans and outdoor heaters have been strategically placed at both ends of the pitch, emitting hot air to accelerate the drying process. Windbreakers have been erected to retain the heat and further enhance the conditions for spin bowling.The Rawalpindi pitch has historically been known for its flat nature, offering minimal assistance to spinners. However, Pakistan's recent strategy has proven effective, with spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan claiming all 20 wickets in the second Test.In contrast, seam bowlers have traditionally performed better on this surface, averaging a wicket every 34 runs. However, Pakistan's captain, Shan Masood, has expressed his desire for an uncharacteristic pitch that favors spinners.England, on the other hand, anticipates a challenging surface, with head coach Brendon McCullum predicting it will be "the antithesis of a green seamer." The English team is prepared for another turner, but remains open-minded ahead of their training session on Tuesday.Notably, the Test strip is one of only three that has been cut across the square, potentially limiting the effectiveness of reverse swing for England's seamers. A grassy square and lush outfield may further hinder their ability to generate movement.As the decider approaches, both teams eagerly await the final condition of the pitch, which will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in determining the outcome of the series.

Pakistan's spin duo of Sajid Khan and Noman Ali have etched their names in cricketing history by becoming the seventh pair of bowlers to capture all 20 wickets in a Test match. Their remarkable feat propelled Pakistan to a resounding 152-run victory over England in the second Test at Multan, setting up a thrilling winner-takes-all showdown in the series finale at Rawalpindi.Noman, the senior partner at 38, led the charge with a career-best 8-46 in England's second innings, while Sajid's 7-111 in the first innings laid the foundation for Pakistan's crucial 75-run lead. Their combined match figures of 11-147 and 9-204, respectively, highlight their dominance on a worn and turning Multan track.The spin pair's success stems from their contrasting styles and unwavering confidence. Noman's left-arm spin provides accuracy and control, while Sajid's off-spin generates sharp turn and bounce. Together, they kept the England batsmen guessing, exploiting the conditions to perfection."We bowled with a lot of confidence and his energy is always very high," Noman said of his partner. "Our plan was to keep it simple. We knew the England batsman would attack, so we were not distracted and kept it simple."Sajid, known for his flamboyant celebrations and immaculately groomed mustache, has become a fan favorite. "I followed my father in keeping a mustache," he said. "David Warner once said he was frightened of my mustache."Former Pakistan spinner Iqbal Qasim believes that Noman and Sajid complement each other perfectly. "Spin gives us the winning formula which we were not using," he said. "Noman and Sajid have matured with experience and can continue to give home wins like this."While it is too early to compare them to India's spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, Noman and Sajid have undoubtedly established themselves as a formidable force. Their performance in Multan has reignited Pakistan's hopes of a series victory and has set the stage for an epic showdown in Rawalpindi.

Pakistan's cricket team celebrated a resounding victory over England in the second Test in Multan, leveling the series 1-1 and ending an 11-match winless streak at home. The triumph marked the first win for Shan Masood as captain, who took over the reins last year.Masood's leadership was instrumental in Pakistan's strategic changes after their loss in the first Test. The team dropped Babar Azam and opted to play three spinners on a reused pitch. This move proved effective as England, resuming at 36-2, could only add 108 more runs.Spinner Noman Ali emerged as the hero for Pakistan, taking eight wickets in England's second innings with figures of 8-46. Sajid Khan supported him with 2-93, wrapping up England's innings at 144. Noman finished with a match haul of 11-147, while Sajid had 9-204. This was only the second time in Pakistan's history that two bowlers took all 20 wickets in a Test match.Noman Ali's performance was particularly impressive, as he dismissed key England batsmen Joe Root and Harry Brook. He also took the wickets of Jamie Smith, Captain Ben Stokes, Brydon Carse, Jack Leach, and Shoaib Bashir. This performance surpassed his previous best of 7-70 against Sri Lanka last year.Pakistan's bowlers dominated throughout the match, with Sajid Khan dismissing Ollie Pope early. England's position worsened at 78-5 when these key players were dismissed. Noman Ali continued to dominate, taking the remaining wickets to secure Pakistan's first home win in over three years.The decisive third and final Test will start on October 24 in Rawalpindi, where Pakistan will aim to seal the series victory.

Jordan Cox, a promising 24-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, is poised to make his Test debut for England during their upcoming tour to New Zealand. Cox's opportunity arises due to Jamie Smith's expected absence for paternity leave during part of the series.Cox, who has been England's spare batter for their last five Tests, has impressed with his performances for Essex. Despite missing the wicketkeeping role this summer due to a broken finger, he has been working diligently with Brendon McCullum in Pakistan to enhance his glovework.McCullum expressed confidence in Cox's abilities, stating that New Zealand is a "comfortable place" to keep wicket. He believes Cox's "solid" glovework and talent with the bat make him a suitable candidate for the Test level.Cox's journey to the England Test team has been marked by determination and a desire for change. After feeling stagnant at Kent, he moved to Essex to reignite his passion for four-day cricket. His impressive performances for Essex, including four centuries, have earned him a place in the England squad.While Cox's lack of recent wicketkeeping experience may raise some concerns, England's selection of Smith earlier this summer, despite his second-choice status at Surrey, suggests that this is not a major issue.Cox's Test debut will provide him with an opportunity to showcase his skills and stake a claim for a permanent spot in the England team. His self-assured character and talent make him a promising prospect for the future.

Pakistan's cricket team has finally broken a three-year drought on home soil, defeating England by 152 runs in the second Test in Multan. The victory levels the three-match series 1-1.The win is a significant achievement for Pakistan, which has struggled in recent years. The team's new selection committee made some bold changes to the squad for the last two Tests, dropping star batter Babar Azam and pacer Shaheen Afridi. The decision was met with mixed reactions, but it ultimately proved to be the right call.Noman Ali and Sajid Khan were the heroes for Pakistan, taking 8-46 and 2-93 respectively to wrap up England's second innings for 144. The visitors were set a daunting target of 297, which proved to be too much.The 152-run victory is Pakistan's first home win since February 2021. It is also a major boost for the team's confidence, which had been dented by a heavy defeat in the first Test.The final Test of the series will start in Rawalpindi on October 24. Pakistan will be hoping to complete a famous series victory over England.

Saqib Mahmood, the 27-year-old Lancashire fast bowler, has signed a three-year white-ball deal with the club, but he insists that he still harbors ambitions of playing Test cricket for England.Mahmood, who made his Test debut in the Caribbean in March 2022, has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons, including consecutive stress fractures of the back in 2022 and 2023. He has not played a first-class match for Lancashire since May, but he returned to the England set-up in last month's T20I series against Australia.Despite his injury woes, Mahmood remains determined to play Test cricket for England again. "While this is a white-ball contract, I still have an ambition to play red-ball cricket for England again and for Lancashire in the County Championship," he said. "There are options within this contract for that to happen."Lancashire's director of cricket performance, Mark Chilton, said that the club's priority is to manage Mahmood's availability around their full Blast schedule. "This contract allows greater control over Saqib's availability during the Vitality Blast blocks in the summer," Chilton said. "This is something we will work closely with Saqib on, particularly around his franchise commitments."Mahmood's deal does not preclude him from forming part of the "stable" of fast bowlers that England head coach Brendon McCullum has said he wants to be able to call upon ahead of next year's Ashes tour. However, it represents a potential retreat from availability, with his previous injury issues meaning that a future on the T20 franchise circuit might be a prudent option for his longevity.The encroachment of franchise tournaments on the English season is a challenge to the county game that will require a coherent response going forward, according to ECB chief executive Richard Gould. "We are certainly hearing from our clubs and our members that we need to control things a little bit," Gould said. "We have to be proud of what we've got and protect it."

Pakistan's Test victory over England in Multan has brought a sense of relief to captain Shan Masood and the team, who had endured a four-year home winless streak. Masood emphasized the importance of the win, stating that it was a step towards addressing the unacceptable recent results.The victory was achieved through a bold strategy that involved overhauling the team's template and bringing in three uncapped spinners. The decision to reuse the same pitch as the first Test also proved crucial. Masood reiterated the team's unwavering commitment to taking 20 wickets in Test matches, regardless of the conditions.The gamble paid off as spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali shared all 20 English wickets, marking the first time since 1972 that two players have been responsible for all opposition wickets in a Test match. Masood praised the spinners' performance, acknowledging that they bowled like seasoned campaigners.Masood emphasized the need to take risks in order to achieve the desired results. He acknowledged that Pakistan had lost many matches while pursuing this approach, but the recent victory justified the strategy. However, he also recognized the need to adapt to different conditions, leaving open the possibility of a different approach in Rawalpindi.Despite the victory, Masood remained cautious, acknowledging that the team's journey was far from over. He expressed hope that the win would mark the beginning of a new era for Pakistan cricket, where they could consistently perform well in their home conditions.

England captain Ben Stokes has expressed regret for his outburst of frustration during the third evening of the second Test against Pakistan in Multan. The incident occurred as the match slipped away from England due to a series of dropped catches and fielding errors.Stokes, who was making his return to the side after a nine-week absence due to a hamstring injury, admitted to behaving like a "tired and grumpy old man" when he berated his players at a critical juncture of Pakistan's second innings. The flashpoint came during a spell of reverse-swing bowling from Brydon Carse, who had just dismissed Mohammad Rizwan for the third time in the series.However, two overs later, Carse suffered two drops in the space of three balls, first by Jamie Smith and then by Joe Root. Salman Agha, who was dropped on 4 and 6, went on to make a match-defining 63 from 89 balls. Stokes' frustration boiled over when Jack Leach fumbled at point to give away an unnecessary single in Carse's subsequent over."I actually apologized to the group up there last night," Stokes said afterwards. "It's the first time in my captaincy that I've let my emotions show in my body language, with how I was feeling as the game was unfolding. I owned up to that, and I'm very annoyed at myself for letting that out."Stokes acknowledged that the challenge of getting back to match fitness had been tough, having played no competitive cricket since August. "I've worked so, so hard to get fit for this Test match, but nothing can prepare you for standing out on the field in hot weather," he said.Despite the fielding lapses, Stokes praised Carse's performance, calling him "fantastic" and highlighting his heart, pace, and skill. England head coach Brendon McCullum agreed, saying that Carse had been the "standout" of England's attack.McCullum also defended Smith's display, saying that he had been "very disappointed" about dropping the catch but that his overall keeping had been "as good as I've seen in these conditions."