England vs Pakistan Test series, Pakistan name seven spinner, used pitch, Ben Stokes return, Babar Azam dropped, news, videos, second Test #adessonews

Pakistan have reportedly picked a staggering seven spinners, hoping to capitalise on a used Multan pitch while England have received a big selection boost.

That is according to The Telegraph, who are reporting Tuesday’s second Test will be played on the same surface that was used for the first Test, meaning it’s essentially six days old.

Pakistan have reportedly made the shock call to drop seamers Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi, replacing then with three frontline spinners and four part-time tweakers.

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In their batting line-up, star batsman Babar Azam has also been axed in shock move.

The hosts will have just one pace bowler in their line-up, hoping to utilise the worn pitch and avoid having England post over 800, like they did in their first innings demolition.

Pakistan’s new spinners, 38-year-old left-arm spinner Noman Ali, Sajid Khan and Zahid Mahmood all average 33 or more in Test cricket.

Mahmood has previously been targeted by England’s batsmen, being smashed for 235 from his 33 overs in Rawalpindi two years ago.

Debutant Kamran Ghulam, will slot into Azam’s No.4 spot, will assist that trio with part-time spin, alongside Agha Salman, Saud Shakeel and Saim Ayub.

For England, Gus Atkinson has been rested, with Matthew Potts coming into the side. Meanwhile, skipper Ben Stokes replaces Chris Woakes in a huge boost.

While the pitch could provide more for bowlers than it did in the first Test, Stokes explained he’s unsure how a used wicket will fare coming into the second fixture.

“It’s the first time ever I’ve played on a used wicket in a Test series,” Stokes said.

“I think we could sit here and say ‘it’s going to do this, it’s going to do that’, but who knows? You’d like to think it’s going to offer the spinners a bit more than it did last week, with it being used and hot.

“It’s a slightly drier square so you might see a little more reverse swing to bring seamers into the game.”

England rewrote the record books in their victory last week in more ways than one, with Harry Brook (317) and Joe Root (262) combining for a 454 partnership, England’s highest ever for any wicket in Test cricket.

It was also the first time ever in the history of Test cricket a team has won by an innings after conceding 500 or more runs in the first innings.

Stokes will be England’s third-choice seamer, with Potts and Brydon Carse taking the new ball while Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir will be the spin attack, alongside Joe Root.