NEW DELHI: England skipper Ben Stokes faced some amusing confusion with a Pakistani reporter ahead of the third Test match against Pakistan.
As the England captain prepared to discuss his team’s performance, the reporter struggled to frame a question about England’s impressive 823-run total from the first Test in Multan, specifically inquiring whether Stokes believed his team could replicate that feat in the upcoming third Test.
Stokes found himself asking the reporter to repeat the question three times, leading to palpable confusion in the room.
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Despite the language barrier, Stokes maintained a humble demeanour as another Pakistani reporter claimed that the Englishman met the reporter after the press conference and apologized for all the miscommunications.
With England looking to bounce back from the defeat in the second Test, Stokes on Wednesday emphasized the importance of the upcoming match, noting that the spin-friendly conditions at Rawalpindi will likely play a crucial role in determining the outcome.
Stokes expressed confidence in his trio of spinners—Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir, and Rehan Ahmed—stating, “We don’t know exactly how the wicket will play, but we’ve taken as much information from it as we can.”
As both teams prepare for the decisive encounter, Pakistan have retained their spin-heavy bowling lineup of Sajid Khan, Noman Ali, and Zahid Mahmood, supported by a sole fast bowler.
With Pakistan hoping to build on their spin success from the previous match and England looking to dominate again, the pitch conditions will be pivotal.
Stokes highlighted the need for both teams to bat first, stressing how spin will become more significant as the match progresses.
With Pakistan aiming to turn around a disappointing year in international cricket, a victory over England would signal a significant turnaround in fortunes.
Pakistan head coach Jason Gillespie echoed Stokes’s sentiments, stating that the near-bald pitch is expected to favour slower bowlers, meaning that Pakistan will be looking to take good advantage of their home condition once again.
