Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood praised Ben Stokes’ England for their approach to the red-ball format ahead of the upcoming Test series between the two teams, noting its significant impact on the world of cricket. Masood remarked that England has unlocked a new way of playing Test cricket.
Since Stokes became captain and Brendon McCullum took over as coach, England has adopted an ultra-aggressive style. This was exemplified during their 2022 tour of Pakistan, where they scored 506 runs on the first day of the opening Test and eventually won the series 3-0 on flat pitches.
In a press conference on Sunday before the first Test of the series, the left-handed batter stated that England has demonstrated how to evolve as a team, as reported by The Guardian:
“It had an effect on the world. We are always playing our best cricket when we’re not giving too much about the result and we’re playing an exciting brand of cricket when it is fearless, taking the game to the opposition.”
“The best thing England did is realise there are other perspectives and things that might suit you. The key is to find new ways of doing things. That is how the world has always progressed and cricket is no different. You try and evolve and create new ways and England have been pioneers in that.”
That summer marked a turning point for English cricket, as they successfully chased down four straight totals exceeding 250, including a remarkable 378 against India at Edgbaston.
“There is significant pain among the players”- Shan Masood
Masood acknowledged that 2024 has been a challenging year for Pakistan, with players eager to rectify their situation. The 34-year-old noted:
“We kept getting into winning positions but the game slipped from our hands. Those are things we need to learn from. The challenge is to make sure that we finish games off. There is a lot of hurt within the players. 2024 has not been a good year for Pakistan cricket all over and we like to see our fans happy. We are hurt. The answer is to be positive. We let the past go.”
The opening Test between Pakistan and England will take place in Multan.
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