England Check captain Ben Stokes stood by the crew’s optimistic strategy with the bat although admitted it “hasn’t paid off for us” as his facet slumped to a 2-1 sequence defeat in Pakistan.
England racked up a large 823 runs within the first innings of their innings victory to open the sequence on a flat pitch in Multan, however have been discovered wanting in the course of the two subsequent losses on turning tracks.
Within the 4 innings since, the vacationers have tallied 291, 144, 267 and solely 112 within the second innings in Rawalpindi, with spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan combining for 39 wickets over the ultimate two Checks – each heavy defeats.
“The last two games, we had some challenges thrown at us and a good way to reflect on it is that we weren’t able to stand up to those challenges,” Stokes instructed Sky Sports activities.
“When that occurs, you are most likely going to fall on the improper facet of the end result – and that’s what’s occurred.
“It’s extremely straightforward to take a seat right here and say, on the finish, when every thing’s unfolded, ‘may we’ve got performed issues slightly bit completely different, evaluating ourselves to how Pakistan went about it?’
“But when we walk out on the field, we are very clear with how we want to go about things and I’m sure Pakistan would have been the same.”
Sajid Khan celebrates the wicket of Ollie Pope, who averaged solely 11 over the three-match sequence
England’s daring strategy, christened ‘Bazball’ since he and head coach Brendon McCullum took over the crew in the summertime of 2022, catapulted them to a 3-0 sequence win on their final tour of Pakistan later that yr.
All three surfaces they confronted two years in the past equally favoured the batters just like the series-opener this yr, however when the ball spins within the sub-continent, England have struggled – a 4-1 defeat to India earlier this yr approaching predominantly turning tracks
Regardless of that, Stokes mentioned the crew stay dedicated to how they need to play.
“We’ve seen on quite a few occasions where that approach has worked for us, has worked for individuals,” the captain added.
“When it comes off, it’s obviously spoken about in terms of it being a great way to counteract what the opposition has shown you.
“You’d slightly it work extra instances than not, however undoubtedly in these final two Check matches, our strategy hasn’t paid off for us. That does not imply that we have doubted our capacity or how we need to go on the market and play.
“And I’m not ever someone to ever live in hindsight… you can never go back and change your decision or what’s happened.”
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Nasser Hussain says the Pakistan spinners are of the very best high quality which uncovered England when the ball does spin
Stokes has ‘no doubts’ over England’s top-six batters
Sky Sports activities’ Nasser Hussain labelled the discrepancy in England’s batting on flat pitches in comparison with spinning surfaces a priority, including on the batting: “Three of your [England’s] top six seem to be lost.
“I am speaking about Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, and even Stokes in Asia… his final 10 scores are very low in these circumstances.”
Crawley averaged 27.80 over the three Tests, with Pope and Stokes’ returns the worst among the top order at just 11.00 and 13.25, respectively, but Stokes stood by the batters picked.
“There isn’t any doubt in my thoughts or Brendon’s that have gotten the most effective top-six gamers in England,” he said.
“Generally guys will reap the rewards of performing effectively out within the center and, sadly, another guys will miss out.
“How you deal with disappointment, how you deal with failure, and how you overcome that, is a massive part of you as an individual.”
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Stokes won’t need to watch again his dismissal on day three, out lbw after leaving a straight ball
As for his personal struggles for type with the bat, Stokes added: “I’m always trying to adapt and evolve as a player, be that against spin or against pace.
“I’ve performed a lot cricket that the frustration is at all times there, it at all times hits exhausting, however when you’ve got a lot expertise to fall again on, it is at all times simpler to take.”
What’s next for England?
England’s white-ball side head to the West Indies for three one-day internationals and a five-match T20 series, with the ODIs set to start in Antigua on Thursday October 31.
As for Stokes’ Test team, they are next in action in New Zealand for a three-match tour that begins in Christchurch on Thursday November 28.
Pakistan vs England Test series
First Test: Multan – England gained by an innings and 47 runs
Second Check: Multan – Pakistan gained by 152 runs
Third Check: Rawalpindi – Pakistan gained by 9 wickets
