Opener Zak Crawley stated on Friday that England’s younger tempo assault will face a “take a look at of character” in its upcoming Check sequence in Pakistan the place a pitch baked by searing temperatures and surging smog ranges await.
The staff touched down this week within the central metropolis of Multan, which can host the primary two of a three-match Check sequence beginning on Monday.
With coaching underway, temperatures are 37 levels Celsius (99 levels Fahrenheit) and air air pollution is as much as 27 occasions the extent deemed secure by the World Well being Group, in line with monitoring agency IQAir.
“It is going to be difficult, however we have now bought all of the issues in place to counter that,” stated Crawley, returning to the squad after lacking a house sequence towards Sri Lanka with a fractured finger.
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“We’re trying ahead to that problem,” the 26-year-old instructed reporters in Multan. “Now we have been speaking about it for the final couple of weeks.”
He predicted England’s quintet of tempo bowlers — on their maiden excursions of Pakistan — would significantly face a “take a look at of character and take a look at of ability”.
With skilled tempo duo James Anderson and Stuart Broad now retired, the baton of tempo bowling is with Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts, Gus Atkinson, Olly Stone and Chris Woakes.
“These younger guys have gotten quite a lot of ability,” stated Crawley. “Being younger brings in power and fireplace within the stomach as effectively, and I’m positive they are going to be raring to go and do effectively.”
Pakistan’s worldwide cricket efficiency is in dire straits, and the red-ball staff has misplaced all 5 matches in the course of the tenure of skipper Shan Masood which started final yr.
Final month they suffered a humiliating first-ever 2-0 house sequence defeat to low-ranked Bangladesh.
Crawley is likely one of the eight gamers on England’s Check squad who additionally performed within the staff beating Pakistan 3-0 in 2022, inflicting on them their first whitewash at house.
“I believe we are going to put stress on the opponents, just like the final time,” stated Crawley, citing England’s aggressive “Bazball” ways, dubbed after the nickname of head coach Brendon McCullum.
“The finger is nice and I’ve recovered effectively,” Crawley stated about his restoration from harm. “I’m completely raring to go. I can’t wait.”
The second Check begins in Multan on October 15 with the ultimate match performed in Rawalpindi from October 24.