Stokes Defends England's Strategy Despite Collapse of 8 for 108

For the first time under Ben Stokes' captaincy, England experienced defeat in Pakistan. However, the victory did not come easily for the hosts, as they made several bold and controversial decisions in preparation for the second Test. The most significant was Pakistan's decision to reuse the surface from the first Test for the second match, both of which were played in Multan. This unusual move grabbed global attention as Pakistan sought to maximize the advantage of home conditions.

When England arrived for practice two days before the second Test, they were greeted with industrial fans blowing at both ends of the pitch. Pakistan had decided to dry out the surface as much as possible under the scorching Multan sun during training sessions, aiming to create conditions that would benefit their bowlers. This strategy worked to perfection, as Pakistan secured a 152-run victory over England, effectively leveling the series.

Stokes acknowledged the challenge of playing on a reused pitch, describing the match as "interesting." "We knew going into the game that it was going to be difficult since we were essentially playing on day six rather than day one," he explained. "It played fine on the first day, but by the end of day two, the wear and tear on the pitch became apparent. Our batsmen who succeeded were the ones who put pressure on the spinners and found ways to deal with the spin. It was a fascinating game to be part of, and I’m sure it was entertaining for both the crowd and those watching on TV."

Despite starting Day 4 with a target of 261 runs and eight wickets in hand, England's batting line-up crumbled. Pakistan's Noman Ali took seven wickets, recording the best bowling figures for the venue, with an outstanding performance of 8 for 46. His relentless spin bowling, along with Sajid Khan's early dismissal of Ollie Pope, left England unable to mount any significant resistance. England, sticking to their aggressive "Bazball" approach, chose to sweep and reverse sweep rather than adopting a more cautious defensive strategy. This led to their downfall, as Pakistan wrapped up the innings in just under two hours, with England adding only 108 runs.

The only meaningful partnership came from Stokes and Brydon Carse, who put together a quick 37-run stand from 32 balls. Stokes top-scored with a brisk 37 off 36 balls, but it wasn't enough to stave off defeat. Reflecting on the loss, Stokes remained positive about England's approach. "We knew it was going to be incredibly tough, but we backed ourselves to chase the runs," he said. "It wasn’t about surviving time; it was about going after the target. I think the way we approached it was the right one. Defending the ball was probably the hardest thing to do on that wicket. Playing sweep shots was a scoring option for us, and while there’s always a risk of dismissal, at least you’re trying to score runs."

England had been trailing by 75 runs after Pakistan's first innings but fought back strongly on day three. Shoaib Bashir's three quick wickets in the morning session threatened to take the game away from Pakistan. When Jack Leach and Carse removed Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Rizwan later in the day, England seemed to have a firm grip on the match. However, they squandered the opportunity with two costly dropped catches, both regulation chances. Jamie Smith and Joe Root dropped Salman Ali Agha twice within three balls, allowing him to score 63 off 89 balls, a crucial contribution that swung the game back in Pakistan's favor.

Stokes was visibly frustrated after those missed chances and later apologized to his team for his reactions. "I actually apologized to the group last night," Stokes admitted. "It’s the first time during my captaincy that I’ve let my emotions show in my body language. I was disappointed in myself for letting that happen. No one means to drop catches, but it just shows how important they are, especially in these conditions where chances don’t come around often. I was a tired and grumpy old man last night, and that won’t happen again."

Stokes also reflected on his personal performance during the match, having returned to action after a nine-week break due to a hamstring injury sustained while playing in The Hundred. There had been concerns about whether he was fit enough to bowl, but the England captain managed to bowl 10 overs across both innings, easing doubts about his fitness. "I’ve worked incredibly hard to get fit for this Test match," Stokes said. "Nothing prepares you for the conditions out on the field, especially in this heat. Training can’t replicate that. But getting through this Test fills me with confidence going into the next one. It was great to get some overs under my belt as well."

Despite England’s collapse in the second innings, Stokes defended the team's aggressive style of play, often referred to as "Bazball." England's philosophy under Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum has been to play attacking cricket, taking calculated risks to score quickly rather than adopting a more traditional, defensive approach. This method has brought them considerable success since Stokes took over as captain, but it also comes with the risk of sudden batting collapses, as seen in this Test.

Stokes remained adamant that England's aggressive approach was the right one, even on a deteriorating pitch. "When you’re chasing runs, you have to give yourself the best chance of scoring. Playing cross-batted shots comes with the risk of getting out, but at least you're trying to put runs on the board. Defending was extremely tough on that wicket, so I think our approach was correct, even if it didn’t work out this time."

Looking ahead to the final Test, Stokes and England will be aiming to bounce back and finish the series on a high. Pakistan's decision to reuse the pitch and the conditions in Multan certainly played a significant role in their victory, but England will take the lessons from this defeat and look to make adjustments for the next match. For Stokes, the challenge remains finding the balance between maintaining England’s attacking identity and adapting to the unique conditions in Pakistan.

As the series heads to Rawalpindi, where conditions are expected to be different, Stokes will be focused on leading his team back to winning ways. England's aggressive mindset has been their hallmark under his captaincy, and while it did not pay off in Multan, Stokes is confident that it remains the best approach for his team. The final Test promises to be another thrilling contest as England look to square the series and Pakistan aim to build on their momentum.