Ready for spin battle in series decider vs Pakistan, says England skipper Ben Stokes

New Delhi: England anticipate a battle of spin in the series deciding third Test against Pakistan that begins on Thursday, said skipper Ben Stokes.

After two matches the two teams are locked at 1-1, with the third game set to begin in Rawalpindi on a pitch that is expected to favour slow bowers.

On a flat Multan track, England posted 823/7 to thump Pakistan by an innings in the first Test, after which the hosts fought back with a 152-run win in the second game on the same venue on the same track.

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Pakistan have opted to go in with their same combination of three frontline spinners in Sajid Khan, Noman Ali and Zahid Mahmood, with only one fast bowler in Aamer Jamal for the decider.

Pakistan have made extra efforts to dry up the Rawalpindi pitch, with the hope of replicating their secod Test win that was aided by spinners to end a drought of home wins dating back to 2021.

Stokes have picked three spinners in Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir and Rehan Ahmed and insists they are ready for the challenge.

“I’ll be backing the three spinners that we’ve picked,” Stokes told reporters after a training session on the eve of the third and final Test.

“We don’t know exactly how the wicket will play, but we’ve taken as much information from it as we can. We think the longer the game goes, the more spin will come into play.”

‘Pitch to favour slower bowlers’

Pakistan’s Test team head coach Jason Gillespie also anitcipates the bald looking pitch to assist slower bowlers where the toss could be a crucial factor.

Pakistan lost their last hme Test series 0-2 to Bangladesh after getting knocked out of the ODI and T20 World Cups in the first rounds.

“Over the last few years Pakistan’s Test cricket hasn’t been where we’d like it to be, so any win is a positive,” Gillespie said.