PAK vs ENG, Weather Forecast And Pitch Report Of Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, England tour of Pakistan 2022, 1st Test

PAK vs ENG, Weather Forecast And Pitch Report Of Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, England tour of Pakistan 2022, 1st Test. PAK vs ENG 1st Test starts at 10: 00 AM on December 1 (Thursday). The three Tests between Pakistan and England are part of the ICC World Test Championship’s second cycle and are scheduled to be played in Rawalpindi (December 1-5), Multan (December 9-13), and Karachi (December 17-21).

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The upcoming Tests against England is Pakistan’s fifth series in the current WTC cycle — their last series will be the two Tests against New Zealand at home in December 2022 and January 2023. These three Tests will be England’s final appearance in the second edition of the World Test Championship, where they are ranked seventh as compared to Pakistan’s fifth position in the table.

Pakistan squad: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shan Masood, Saud Shakeel, Salman Agha, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Abrar Ahmed, Zahid Mahmood, Mohammad Nawaz, Azhar Ali, Mohammad Ali.

England squad: Ben Stokes, James Anderson, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes, Will Jacks, Keaton Jennings, Jack Leach, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Mark Wood, Rehan Ahmed.

Pakistan has not lost a Test Match at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium since cricket resumed in the country. England hasn’t won a game away from home in the last 10 Test Matches they have played. England lacks a good spin bowling attack, and this will be a weakness on a turning Rawalpindi track.

Pakistan lost the last home series against Australia, and they will aim for a better show here using the home advantage. England lost the last series against West Indies, and the side would be eager for a positive performance in this game.

The English team has struggled in away tours over the last two years. They don’t have any entry in the victory column away from home in the last 10 games. The lack of a world-class spinner hurts the side’s balance. Pakistan would make lives challenging for the visitors, and it will be interesting to see how the English players cope with the challenge.

England finished its first tour to Pakistan in 17 years with a thumping 67-run win in their T20I decider to clinch the exciting seven-match T20I series 4-3 prior to the 3 Test series.

Before the first Test match that will be played in Rawalpindi on December 1, 2022, the England cricket team has dealt with a massive blow to their fast bowling unit. After 17 years, it is time for England to play against Pakistan in a three-match Test series.

With international cricket resuming in Pakistan, security issues have always been doing the rounds of headlines but the English outfit has shown confidence in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and gearing up for the series opener. This is England’s first challenge away from their home after coach Brendon McCullum and skipper Ben Stokes took over the Test squad and they will certainly want to make it count.

Ahead of the first Test match that will be played in Rawalpindi, England have endured a massive setback to their plans. Their spearhead Mark Wood has been ruled out of the first Test that is scheduled to be played on December 1, 2022. The right-arm pacer sustained a hip injury during the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2022.

England played a seven-match T20 series before the start of the 2022 T20 World Cup but as of now, they will be competing in their white flannels.

The Pakistan side would look for a good start in this game, and openers Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq know these conditions well. The middle order is formidable for the team, and they have Babar Azam and Azhar Ali in good form. Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, and Faheem Ashraf add solidity to this line-up and will look to contribute in the lower middle order.

Their bowling attack world needs to use the conditions well. Mohammad Waseem and Naseem Shah shall look to make good use of the new ball. Haris Rauf is an experienced bowler, and he will look to put the English batsmen under pressure. Mohammad Nawaz, Saud Shakeel, and Nauman Ali must fox the opposition with their variety.

Pakistan Predicted Playing XI:

Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Faheem Ashraf/ Shan Masood, Mohammad Nawaz, Nauman Ali, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Saud Shakeel/ Haris Rauf.

Ben Stokes’ team would be touring Pakistan after a gap of 17 years, and the England skipper would look for a good show from his players. Pakistan will be a formidable opponent to beat in its backyard, and the visitors must overcome the challenge thrown at them. They haven’t won in the last 10 games away from home. Ben Stokes would look to get over this miserable run.

It will be a massive challenge for openers Zak Crawley and Keaton Jennings in this game. The pair shall need to set up a good partnership in this game. The middle order has experienced, and the side would expect runs from Ollie Pope, Joe Root, and Ben Stokes. Ben Foakes and Jamie Overton have to do well down the order, as the Pakistani spinners would test them.

Veteran pacer James Anderson has to bring his experience to play, and he will look to pick early wickets while sharing the new ball with Oliver Robinson. Rehan Ahmed is likely to get his debut in this Test series, and he must bowl good spells with Jack Leach and use these conditions well. The side would like to see a good show from Jamie Overton in this game.

England Predicted Playing XI:

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Ollie Pope, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Ben Foakes (wk), Liam Livingstone, James Anderson, Jack Leach, Ollie Robinson

PAK vs ENG, Weather Forecast And Pitch Report Of Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, England tour of Pakistan 2022, 1st Test

The skies over Rawalpindi shall be clear throughout the game. Batting conditions will be the best on Days 1 and 2. Batsmen can score runs easily after seeing off the first session. One will see movement for the fast bowlers in the morning session. Spinners would enjoy it once the ball gets old. 375 runs shall be on the minds of the side batting first.

Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium is a typical subcontinental surface. The wicket is flat, and one has seen big scores at this venue. Fast bowlers must rely on their skills and variations as the surface doesn’t assist them. Spinners enjoy bowling here as the dry surface allows them to grip the ball and turn it sharply.

We expect a good batting surface on the first two days, and the wicket will become conducive for spin bowling as the game progresses. Chasing a 4th innings total on this surface has never been easy. The side winning the toss should bat first and take advantage of the conditions.

12 Tests have been played at Rawalpindi. India have registered the highest score of 600 based on Rahul Dravid’s 270 which is the highest individual score. Mohammad Zahid of Pakistan has registered the best bowling figures of 7/66 in innings and 11/130 in the match. The first Test was held in 1993 while Pakistan and Australia Test-the 12th at this ground was drawn.

According to weather.com, the temperature will range between 8-23 degrees Celcius on the 5 days of the Test starting from December 1 and concluding on December 5. Humidity will be between 55-75%. There are 1-3% chances of rainfall. There will be cloud covers.

Talks over postponing the first Test between England and Pakistan by a day have been held after the tourists’ squad was affected by an illness. About 14 members of the party of players and coaches were advised to rest at the hotel on Wednesday, rather than attend training in Rawalpindi. About half of the playing squad of 16 has been hit, including captain Ben Stokes. Only five took part in an optional training session on Wednesday.

Joe Root said he had suffered symptoms on Tuesday, but felt well enough to train on Wednesday, along with fellow batters Zak Crawley, Harry Brook, Ollie Pope, and Keaton Jennings. Head coach Brendon McCullum and batting coach Marcus Trescothick were also in attendance.