England’s Bold Style in 2022 Inspired Global Change, Says Pakistan’s Shan Masood
Reflecting on England’s remarkable performance during their 2022 tour of Pakistan, Shan Masood, Pakistan’s captain, stated without hesitation, “It had an effect on the world.” The series, where England claimed a historic 3-0 win, remains one of their most significant achievements. On flat pitches in unfamiliar conditions, they defied expectations by scoring at a blistering rate, becoming the first team ever to score 250 or more runs at over 5.30 runs per over against Pakistan. In the second innings of the first Test, England’s run rate peaked at an extraordinary 7.36, a record that was unmatched until India achieved 285 at 8.22 against Bangladesh recently.
England’s fearless approach, particularly under Ben Stokes’ captaincy, set the tone for this revolutionary series. “The way Ben led in that series was phenomenal,” said Ollie Pope, who will captain England in the first Test against Pakistan in Multan starting Monday morning. Pope credited Stokes’ brave decision-making, especially in the first Test, as a key factor in England’s success.
In response, Pakistan has been working to adopt some of the key elements of England’s bold strategy. “We always play our best cricket when we don’t focus too much on the result and instead play an exciting, fearless brand of cricket,” Masood shared. He emphasized that England’s innovation has helped the cricket world evolve, and Pakistan is striving to find new ways to push boundaries in the sport. “The key is to evolve, and England has been a pioneer in that,” Masood added.
While England has talked about refining their style this year, head coach Brendon McCullum clarified that their core approach remains unchanged. “When I spoke about refinement, I meant changes in personnel, not in our overall strategy,” McCullum explained. “Our approach has always stayed the same.”
However, McCullum acknowledged that this series may require England to adapt their tactics compared to their last tour in 2022. Back then, they prioritized creating enough time to take 20 wickets, leading to their aggressive run-scoring strategy. McCullum noted that while they remain committed to this aggressive style, they are prepared to adjust if conditions dictate a different approach.
One major difference this time around is the timing of the series. England’s 2022 visit occurred in December, but this tour takes place two months earlier, in considerably hotter conditions. “It’s rocking hot for a start,” McCullum remarked. “We’ve got to stay flexible with our plans and adjust quickly.”
McCullum also praised Ben Stokes’ intense efforts to recover from injury, though the captain ultimately could not be fit in time for the series. “I’ve never seen a professional athlete train as hard as he did,” McCullum said, highlighting Stokes’ dedication. He also defended fast bowling coach Jimmy Anderson’s brief absence from the tour to compete in a pro-am golf tournament, asserting that Anderson has remained in close contact with the team and is set to rejoin them shortly. “We believe in ensuring that our players can enjoy their lives, whether it’s spending time with family or pursuing hobbies,” McCullum said.
Meanwhile, Pakistan is grappling with challenges of their own. Under Masood’s captaincy, they have suffered five consecutive Test losses over the past year, including a painful 3-0 defeat in Australia and a 2-0 loss at home to Bangladesh. Masood admitted that Pakistan’s players are hurting from these setbacks. “We kept finding ourselves in winning positions but couldn’t close out the games,” he said. “2024 has been a tough year for Pakistan cricket, and we want to make our fans proud. It’s time to be positive and move on from the past.”
As both teams prepare to face off, they will look to make their mark in what promises to be another thrilling contest in Pakistan.
