New Delhi: Pakistan will face England in the third and last Test of the series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 24. England won the first Test by an innings and 47 runs but Pakistan made a brilliant comeback and won the second Test by 152 runs.
Ahead of the series decider, Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum engaged in a six-hitting battle. The England captain leads the all-time six-hitting chart with 131 maximums in 106 matches while the head coach is in the second position on the list with 107 sixes in 101 matches.
In the six-hitting battle, Stokes and McCullum missed their first chance. England’s captain also failed to hit a big shot on the second delivery but McCullum stepped forward and smashed the ball into the boundary. The former New Zealand skipper reminded everyone why he was considered one of the best explosive batters.
Most sixes in Test history:
1️⃣ Ben Stokes – 131
2️⃣ Brendon McCullum – 107What better time for a little competition then? 🙌 pic.twitter.com/D3w0VCZHKj
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) October 23, 2024
England’s playing XI for third Test
The Three Lions made two changes in their playing XI after losing the second Test. Rehan Ahmed replaced Matthew Potts and Gus Atkinson replaced Brydon Carse in the team. Rehan returned to the team for the first time since the Rajkot Test while Atkinson will be the will be the only specialist fast bowler in the team. However, Captain Ben Stokes is expected to bowl a few overs if needed.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made good efforts in Rawalpindi to offer a slow and low pitch. The groundsmen have done great hard work to dry out the surface to provide assistance to spinners in the last test.
England (Playing XI): Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes(c), Jamie Smith(w), Gus Atkinson, Rehan Ahmed, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir.
Pakistan (Playing XI): Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood(c), Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan(w), Agha Salman, Aamer Jamal, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Zahid Mahmood.
