What's happened
England suffered a nine-wicket defeat to Pakistan in the third Test, losing all 20 wickets to spinners. This follows a record-breaking win in the first Test, highlighting stark contrasts in performance on different pitch conditions. Captain Ben Stokes acknowledged the team's inability to adapt to spin-friendly surfaces.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Simon Burnton in The Guardian, England's captain Ben Stokes admitted that Pakistan's spinners were 'obviously too good for our batting lineup.' He emphasized that Pakistan played better cricket for longer periods. In contrast, Hussain from The Independent noted that England's drastic performance drop on spinning pitches raises concerns about their adaptability, stating, 'the discrepancy with England is a concern.' This sentiment is echoed by Masood, who highlighted the need for teams to learn to play in all conditions, indicating a broader issue for England's Test strategy.
How we got here
England began the series strongly, winning the first Test by an innings. However, they faced challenges in the subsequent matches as Pakistan altered their pitch strategy to favor spin, leading to England's collapse and losses in the final two Tests.
Common question
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Rehan Ahmed has recently made headlines in the cricket world, particularly following England's struggles against Pakistan. As a young talent, his performance raises questions about the future of England's cricket team and their ability to adapt to different playing conditions. This page explores who Ahmed is, his impact on the team, and the challenges England faces moving forward.
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What Went Wrong for England in the Recent Test Against Pakistan?
England's cricket team faced a shocking defeat against Pakistan, losing all 20 wickets to spinners in the third Test. This performance starkly contrasts their earlier success in the series, raising questions about their adaptability to different pitch conditions and the implications for their future in Test cricket.
More on these topics
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Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the world's fifth-most populous country with a population exceeding 212.2 million. It is the 33rd-largest country by area, spanning 881,913 square kilometres.
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England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest of England and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. England is separated from continental Europe by
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Benjamin Andrew Stokes OBE is an English international cricketer and current vice-captain of the England cricket team in Test cricket. Stokes was part of the England squad that won the 2019 Cricket World Cup. In July 2020, Stokes captained the England tea
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Shan Masood Khan is an international cricketer who plays for the Pakistan national cricket team. He is a left-handed batsman and an occasional right-arm medium-fast bowler.