The schedule for England’s Test series in Pakistan has finally been confirmed, just 17 days before play gets under way, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) deciding to move only the second game, which, like the first, will now be played in Multan.
The original schedule was announced precisely 11 weeks ago in July, with the first Test in Multan, the second in Karachi and the third in Rawalpindi. But after it became clear that major renovation work on the National Bank Stadium in Karachi, being undertaken with February’s Champions Trophy in mind, would not be completed in time, various options were considered.
These included playing the second game in Rawalpindi, keeping it in Karachi but playing it behind closed doors, and even playing one of the Tests in Abu Dhabi. The eventual solution allowed the PCB to present the change as “minor adjustments” and means that any international flights booked in July will not need to be changed.
Relatively few travelling fans are expected in Pakistan, particularly given that the tour is immediately followed in England’s schedule by a white-ball trip to the West Indies, and then by a Test series in New Zealand. Others are sitting out all of this winter’s tours with next year’s Ashes in mind. The Barmy Army, one of several operators offering packages, are expecting to take about 20 people. But those intending to travel will welcome an end to the uncertainty surrounding the trip.
“It’s really not been ideal at all. It’s very difficult to plan when you don’t know what cities you’re going to,” said Sophie Henderson, the Barmy Army’s office manager. “In the end it’s not impacted us too much. We’re quite pleased with the decision they’ve made.”
England’s hectic schedule between now and Christmas has forced them into something of a holding pattern, with trips so tightly packed that Brendon McCullum will not start his role as all-format head coach until the new year. Among those itching for the New Zealander’s full takeover is Ben Duckett, who having established himself as England’s Test opener had his first ODI outing there in Thursday’s defeat by Australia and is expecting January to bring “a breath of fresh air”.
“I’ve been fortunate to work under [McCullum] for the last couple of years and he’s taken my game to the next level,” said Duckett, before the second ODI at Headingley on Saturday. “He finds ways to get the best out of everyone and I think he’s going to come and do that with quite a young England one-day team. It’s not technical in the slightest. It’s more [removing] that fear factor and giving you the belief that you can do it against the best attacks in the world.”
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The quick turnaround for the second instalment of this Autumnal ODI series means England may choose to rest Jofra Archer, given the careful management of his return from injury. The tourists are waiting to discover whether Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc are well again after missing the series opener with a virus, not least with left-arm seamer Ben Dwarshuis expected to be ruled out of the remaining games with the pectoral strain he picked up on debut.