After thriving on a fast, tiring bowling pitch in the second Test, Pakistan are using every method possible to prepare the surface for Thursday's decider in Rawalpindi in similar conditions: a pair of giant windbreaks, aided by two giant fans . Six patio heaters.
The fans were used before the second Test to accelerate the deterioration of the pitch at Multan, with the aim of creating a surface that would provide maximum spin and grip to Pakistan's spinners. This approach proved very successful, with two of them, Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, claiming 20 England wickets as the home team won by 152 runs to level the series, with England captain Ben Stokes delighted with what he called “quite a bit” conditions. intense”. .
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Pakistan captain Shan Masood said: “It was a team effort. “I am pleased to give credit to everyone involved in deciding the terms. We have to decide what is best for Pakistan cricket and implement it.
That ground in Multan had already been played for five days of the inaugural Test, but the Rawalpindi strip was new, a ground generally considered anti-spin. “I like a revolutionary pitch,” Masood said Friday. “I don't know if I have seen a Turner in Rawalpindi; that's a problem. We still hope that the sun can play its part and that the wicket is dry. I think the people on the ground are already working there.
The sun is doing its best to keep Rawalpindi's skies clear and temperatures in the 30s all week, but the ground crew, led by Australian Tony Hemming, former ICC chief superintendent in Dubai and author of the book Extreme Stadium Turf: Middle East Conditions – have clearly decided that time alone is not enough.
On Sunday they placed three gas patio heaters at each end of the court to warm the air as much as possible, with a large fan behind each to send freshly lit air across the surface and a windbreak at each end. Allows it to be reheated and recycled to prevent it from leaking. Pakistan will hope that three more days of roasting will make the pitch conducive to spin, but England will not spoil everything by winning the toss and providing their home spinners with perfect conditions.
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