PAK vs. ENG 2024/25, PAK vs. ENG 3rd test match report, October 24th – 28th, 2024

Throw England chose Bat vs Pakistan

England won their first toss in eight attempts and elected to beat Pakistan in the crucial third Test in Rawalpindi.

After winning the second Test to end the series in Multan on the same surface where England took a 1-0 lead in the opening game, the hosts have done everything in their power to ensure that this pitch has similar rotational properties. A combination of industrial fans and heaters – even rakes – gave a normally flat surface a rougher look as Pakistan tried to emulate their success last week. Therefore, with his correct call and his first bet, Ben Stokes evened out the otherwise lush playing field.

“It looks like a really good wicket at the moment,” Stokes said as he tossed, “but it's another challenge we face.” Pakistan captain Shan Masood agreed.

With pitch conditions clear well in advance, both teams arrived on Wednesday having already named their XIs. Pakistan are unchanged, with Sajid Khan and Noman Ali expected to take the lion's share of the ball representation after bowling more than 87% of their overs for all 20 wickets in both innings of the second Test. England, meanwhile, has increased its spin stocks.

Leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed makes his first international appearance since February as one of three spinners for the tourists, along with part-time staff member Joe Root. Rehan, who played three Tests in India earlier this year, will be looking to repeat his success in the final Test of the 2022 tour here, when he took his maiden five-wicket haul in the second innings on his debut in Karachi to cap a 3-0 win .

Gus Atkinson returns after sitting out the second Test as the sole hitter, alongside Stokes, who bowled just five overs after returning from a torn hamstring last week. Matthew Potts and Brydon Carse are the two players making way – rested rather than retired.

Since 2019, Rawalpindi has been one of the best batting venues, something England used to their advantage two years ago when they scored 657 in their first innings at a remarkable 6.51 runs per over, scoring 506 on the opening day of that first Test.

Repeating that success on a completely different track will be a more difficult task this time. Pakistan, meanwhile, will be aiming for their first home series win since 2021 against South Africa, six series ago.

Pakistan 1 Saim Ayub, 2 Abdullah Shafique, 3 Shan Masood (Captain), 4 Kamran Ghulam, 5 Saud Shakeel, 6 Mohammad Rizwan (Week), 7 Salman Agha, 8 Aamer Jamal, 9 Sajid Khan, 10 Noman Ali, 11 Zahid Mehmood

England 1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope, 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Ben Stokes (captain), 7 Jamie Smith (week), 8 Gus Atkinson, 9 Rehan Ahmed, 10 Jack Leach, 11 Shoaib Bashir