KARACHI: Still basking in the glory of their stunning Lord’s triumph, Pakistan reached Manchester on Tuesday ahead of their second Test against England that begins at Old Trafford from Friday.
It was a surprisingly warm and sunny day in Manchester but the weather is expected to get cooler and wetter later this week.
But despite such forecast, there are indications that both teams are mulling over the idea of playing two spinners in the second Test.
Following leggie Yasir Shah’s match-winning haul of 10-141 in the opening Test, the focus seems more on spin than pace as England look to counter Pakistan and level the four-Test series 1-1 at Old Trafford.
Yasir is all set to once again play the role of Pakistan’s trump card in the second Test but there is a possibility that the visitors might also rope in leggie Zulfiqar Babar in their playing eleven.
However, sources in the Pakistan team told ‘The News’ that a final decision on the line-up will only be taken after the team management takes a long, hard look at the Old Trafford pitch ahead of the second Test.
Sources said that the captain and coach were happy with the way Pakistan’s pace trio of Mohammad Amir, Rahat Ali and Wahab Riaz performed in the first Test at Lord’s last week.
“Only if they think that the pitch will help spinners can Pakistan decide to drop one of the fast bowlers to make space for another spinner,” a source said.
While Pakistan are keeping their options open, England are pondering over a twin-spin attack at Old Trafford.
Agencies add: England head coach Trevor Bayliss has said that the home team could field two spinners after Yorkshire’s Adil Rashid was called into the squad for the second Investec Test against Pakistan.
Rashid was given the call alongside fit-again Ben Stokes and James Anderson as England look to bounce back from the 75-run first Test defeat at Lord’s.
Rashid’s three Test appearances so far have come in the spin-friendly conditions of the UAE against the same opponents last year, with England so far reluctant to play two spinners at home, where conditions traditionally suit seam bowling.
But while Moeen Ali was ineffective at Lord’s, Bayliss says it is not impossible for both to play at Old Trafford this week.
“I’ve always thought of playing two spinners [at home], at some stage,” he said. “Pakistan have three left-arm pace bowlers, who created rough outside the off stump for Moeen.
“So looking ahead, if we did happen to have two spinners, they could both play an important part for us.”
England’s more pressing need is working out how to bat better against Pakistan’s leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who rose to the top of the ICC Test bowling rankings after his 10-wicket haul at Lord’s.
“Our batters have to play their spin a lot better,” said Bayliss. “Especially in the first innings, I felt we gifted him a few wickets with shots I’m sure the boys would like to replay.”