England captain Ben Stokes says he has no issues with Pakistan’s use of home advantage for this week’s second Test, after the hosts packed their side with spinners on a used pitch in Multan.
Stokes missed England’s incredible win last week but is fit to play on Tuesday as the second Test begins on exactly the same surface.
Re-using a pitch that hosted more than 350 overs in the past few days is a highly unusual, but entirely legal, move and one that Stokes has no problem with.
“It’s the first time ever I’ve played on a used wicket in a Test series. It could be a tactic,” he said.
“But I think if we went 1-0 down at home, we would probably be going to our groundsman at the second Test saying, ‘can we have a bit more of this and a bit more of that’ to use home advantage in our favour.
“We could sit here and say ‘it’s going to do this, it’s going to do that’ but who knows? A used pitch brings a lot more into the game for both teams, actually. If it does spin more, if it does reverse more, there’s more options there for both teams.”
Stokes, who will bowl as an all-rounder, is one of two changes for England, Matthew Potts also coming in for Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson.
Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir, who turned 21 between Tests, will be expected to do the bulk of the bowling but Stokes insists his rehabilitation period has left him stronger than ever.
“I’d written a few teams down with me not bowling and it just didn’t work,” he admitted.
“It’s obviously got to be sensible but I’m playing as a third seamer. I’m available to bowl and when I sense the time is right for me to maybe come on and make an impact, there won’t be any doubts in my mind that I can come on and bowl.
“I’ve had a fair few injuries, it’s part of what we do, part of how I play cricket but I like to keep a positive mindset.
“Not only do I have a goal of getting my body back into a state of being able to play but I also have an individual goal of making sure I’m physically fitter than when I got injured. I’ve put myself through a fitness test over the last couple of days and come through that pretty well.”
