What should England decide after the defeat in Pakistan? – Irvine Times

Here, the PA news agency looks at the key questions they need to answer.

Should they have expected to beat Pakistan

On paper, there were many reasons to appeal to tourists.

They won 3-0 on their previous visit in 2022 and their opponents had not won a home Test for more than three-and-a-half years, including five consecutive defeats under new captain Shan Masood. An innings win in the first match in Multan continued those trends, but some extreme measures were needed to turn the tide.

Pakistan took drastic action to prepare spin pitches, re-using the same surface in an unprecedented move and then aggressively manipulating the normally benign surface in Rawalpindi to repeat the trick.

Under these circumstances England’s prospects were always diminished.

Was the advertising job fair in Pakistan?

It is unheard of for a ground to host back-to-back Tests within a few days, and the use of industrial fans, patio heaters and paddles hinted at desperation.

But it is hard to argue that the conditions were worse than the stubbornly flat track that allowed England to declare 823 in the first match. The ball turned early and often, but it would be hard to say that the battle between bat and ball was unfair.

To their credit, there were hardly any complaints from the England camp.

What can England learn from the spin trial?

After losing 4-1 in India at the start of 2024, they have now lost six of their eight matches in the subcontinent this year. Simply put, they are not comfortable when the ball is spinning and the seams are pushed to the periphery.

England have perhaps become too reliant on batting as a batting unit, using batting on a one-size-fits-all basis rather than being selective. But Noman Ali and Sajid Khan outplayed the visiting spinners significantly as well.

Given the lack of help from typical English pitches, perhaps this is no surprise, but surely work needs to be done to make more spin surfaces in county cricket, rather than discourage players like Somerset.

How safe is Ollie Pope?

Pope came under increased scrutiny after managing just 55 runs in five innings, underscoring his reputation as a timid starter.

He averages 32 this year at the number three center position, with a hat-trick of fine centuries hauled in with 11 single-figure scores.

England would not want to shortchange their vice-captain, who has led the team four times in the last six Tests, and will certainly back him to perform well in the upcoming tour of New Zealand. Another quiet streak there would be harder to swallow.

How is Shoaib Bashir shaping up?

It was always going to be difficult to elevate such an inexperienced bowler as first choice, as England did at the start of the summer.

Bashir has overtaken Jack Leach in the Test squad despite acting as his back-up at Somerset and their dynamic has been intriguing over the past few weeks. Statistically, it was a clean sweep for the left-armer, with Leach’s record of 16 wickets at 31.43 far outstripping the off-spinner’s nine wickets at 49.55.

It was also used more often. But Ben Stokes called the 21-year-old “our all-round spinner”, suggesting he remains the number one.

Like the Pope, he must repay that faith with results if he is to hold his place all the way to next winter’s Holy Grail of Ashes.