Pak vs Eng – Ben Duckett – Pakistan could ‘collapse’ in crucial third innings.

In each of its four Tests in 2024, Pakistan first struggled and then imploded in the third innings, posting scores of 115 against Australia in Sydney, 146 and 172 against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi and most recently 220 against England in the innings of last week's defeat in Multan. Duckett reckons they could face similar problems on a grueling pitch.

“We’re hitting all the way down,” Duckett told Sky Sports. “I think it will be really important that we try to score runs. We know there won't be a draw on this pitch and we certainly won't play for a draw. The runs are going to be so, so vital… If we try to get as close as possible in the first hour, we know they can collapse.

“The pressure has kind of passed on to them. We are 1-0 up in the series but we always believe we are in the game. If we bowl well and try to keep the lead at around 200 or less, we will think we are in the game. “

Duckett, who scored a total of 114 in England's reply to Pakistan's 366, said the pitch offered more for the spinners in the evening after a busy day. “I think the more the pitch is used throughout the day, the more it crumbles and 'slips', so hopefully it won't slip quite as much in the morning,” he said. I can't imagine this pitch staying the same or not changing significantly.

“I think it's going to get worse and I think the beauty of having a few seamers is that bounce – and I think Carsey (Brydon Carse) and Potts (Matthew Potts) in the first innings were really incredible were. We'll use them again in the second inning when the ball is down and one or the other jumps up, we have those options too.”

“If you slow down to 67 to 68 km/h, you have reached the right time. If you bowl at over 90km/h at certain points, you will only get a break every now and then. But for the spinner there's nothing in it if you bowl inside. “If you bowl wider and slower outside the stumps, that's where the cracks are and that's what we're trying to exploit.”