Ben Stokes: England Struggles to Meet Pakistan's Challenge in Test Series

England captain Ben Stokes has admitted that his team struggled to respond to the challenges posed by Pakistan during the last two Tests of their series. After a heavy defeat in the first Test by an innings and 47 runs, Pakistan made a remarkable comeback to win the three-Test series 2-1. They chose to play the last two matches on difficult pitches, which helped them secure victories of 152 runs in Multan and nine wickets in Rawalpindi, wrapping up the series.

“The last couple of Tests were tough, and it’s clear we didn’t meet those challenges,” Stokes said. “In sports, challenges always come, but we couldn’t match what Pakistan threw at us... Losing a Test match is incredibly disappointing.”

England's Previous Dominance

Two years ago, England had a successful tour of Pakistan, winning all three Tests and making history as the first team to whitewash Pakistan at home. They kicked off this series with a massive score of 823 runs in the first Test, setting a record by winning a Test match by an innings despite conceding 500 runs in the first innings. However, in the last two Tests, England’s batting struggled, managing only 814 runs for 40 wickets, as Pakistan’s Sajid Khan and Noman Ali took 39 wickets between them.

Turning Point in Rawalpindi

England had a good start in the Rawalpindi Test, winning the toss and scoring 267 runs on day one. It seemed like enough on a pitch that turned sharply. By the end of day one, Pakistan had lost three wickets and were trailing England by 194 runs. The following day, England’s Rehan Ahmed took quick wickets, leaving Pakistan at 177 for 7. However, a strong performance from Saud Shakeel, who scored 134 runs, along with crucial contributions from Noman and Sajid, pushed Pakistan ahead by 77 runs.

Sajid’s innings was especially vital as he scored 48 runs off just 36 balls, hitting four sixes. This innings shifted the momentum, frustrating England. When England’s Ben Duckett fell to Sajid’s clever bowling early in their second innings, it was a turning point.

“Last night, Sajid came out swinging after we took Noman’s wicket,” Stokes explained. “He took some big risks, and luckily for Pakistan, it worked out. On these pitches, every run counts, and his aggressive play was a huge moment in the match.”

Looking Ahead

There are calls to drop opener Zak Crawley and vice-captain Ollie Pope due to their poor performances, but Stokes defended them, saying, “I believe we have the best top six batters in England.” He added, “You can’t close the door on players after one series. That’s not how you build a team.”

England’s next challenge is a three-Test series in New Zealand.

Sources: Internet Sources & Twitter X 

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