England won the toss and elected to bat first in the third and final Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, a critical match for both teams. England’s captain, Jos Buttler, made the decision to bat on a surface known for favoring early batting conditions. This match also saw the return of Rehan Ahmed to England’s XI, while Pakistan chose to field the same lineup that played in the previous Test.
Rehan Ahmed’s inclusion was a significant decision, as the young leg-spinner had impressed in previous matches with his potential to extract turn from even the most placid pitches. His presence in the lineup added an extra dimension to England’s attack, especially on a Rawalpindi pitch that tends to assist spin later in the game. For England, this Test represented an opportunity to close out the series strongly after a mixed bag of performances.
Pakistan, on the other hand, entered the Test with high hopes but knew they were facing an uphill task. After faltering in the previous matches, Pakistan had yet to secure a series victory against England, and their bowling unit, led by Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf, was under pressure to deliver. With no changes to their squad, they placed their faith in consistency, hoping to exploit England’s vulnerabilities, especially in the middle order, which had shown signs of fragility in earlier matches.
The decision to bat first seemed calculated by Buttler. England had been adopting an aggressive “Bazball” approach, characterized by attacking batting and a fearless mindset, and the flat Rawalpindi pitch offered an ideal platform to put up a big score. The team’s top order, particularly Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, was expected to give England a solid start. Both players had demonstrated their ability to handle Pakistan’s pace attack, and the key to success would be how they managed Pakistan’s spin duo of Noman Ali and Zahid Mahmood, who had proven effective in drying up runs in the middle overs.
England’s middle-order, with stalwarts like Joe Root and Harry Brook, had the responsibility of capitalizing on the foundation laid by the openers. Root, in particular, was in excellent form, having played match-defining innings in previous Tests. His battle against Pakistan’s spinners was anticipated to be a crucial contest within the match.
Pakistan’s bowling unit was under the spotlight, especially with the high expectations from their pacers. Shaheen Afridi’s ability to swing the new ball and Haris Rauf’s raw pace were essential to make early inroads into England’s top order. However, their strategy was not just to rely on the quicks. Noman Ali, Pakistan’s left-arm spinner, was expected to play a key role, especially in the latter stages of England’s innings when the pitch would offer more turn and assistance to slow bowlers.
As the match unfolded, England’s decision to bat first appeared justified, with the openers getting off to a cautious but solid start. However, the real challenge would come once the new ball lost its shine and Pakistan’s spinners came into play. Pakistan’s game plan was clearly to restrict England’s scoring opportunities through disciplined bowling and build pressure, hoping to force mistakes from England’s aggressive batsmen.
For Pakistan, this was a must-win game. They were determined to bounce back after the disappointment of the previous Tests, where their batting had been inconsistent, and their bowling attack, despite showing promise, had failed to deliver the knockout blow. Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, was well aware of the challenges ahead but remained optimistic, citing the resilience and fight his team had shown in patches during the series.
One of the key aspects for Pakistan would be their fielding, which had let them down at crucial junctures in earlier matches. Dropped catches and missed run-out opportunities had cost them dearly, and the team had worked hard to address these issues ahead of the final Test. With England’s aggressive approach, Pakistan knew that fielding could be the difference between victory and defeat.
The match was not just about the series win; it had larger implications for both teams. For England, it was a chance to continue their resurgence in Test cricket under the leadership of Jos Buttler and head coach Brendon McCullum. Their new brand of cricket had caught the world’s attention, and a series victory in Pakistan would solidify their status as one of the top Test sides in world cricket.
For Pakistan, this match represented an opportunity to restore pride and prove that they could compete with the best. A win in Rawalpindi would not only level the series but also give them much-needed momentum heading into future international fixtures. It would also serve as a confidence boost for some of their younger players, who had shown glimpses of their potential but were yet to fully establish themselves at the international level.
As the sun set on the first day, both teams knew that the outcome of the series rested on their performance over the next five days. With Rehan Ahmed back in the side for England and Pakistan’s unchanged lineup looking to prove their worth, cricket fans were in for a thrilling conclusion to the series. The Rawalpindi Test promised to be a closely fought contest, with both teams leaving no stone unturned in their quest for victory.