In each of their four Tests in 2024, Pakistan batted first and then imploded in the third innings, recording scores of 115 against Australia in Sydney, 146 and 172 against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi and, most recently, 220 against England in the innings of the last week. defeat at Multan. On a worn-out field, Duckett believes they could face similar problems.
“We batted until the end,” Duckett told Pak Gazette. “I think it will be very important that we look to score runs. We know that on this field there will be no tie and we are definitely not going to play for the tie. The runs will be so, so vital… That first hour, if we can try to get as close as possible, We know they can fall apart.
“The pressure is on them. We are one to zero in the series. We won the last series by three to zero. I know they are going to fight throughout this whole game and try to do their best, as hard as they can for us. But “We always think we’re in the game… If we bowl well and can try to keep the chase to around 200 or less, we think we’ll be in the game.”
Duckett, who scored 114 in England’s reply to Pakistan’s total of 366, said the pitch offered more for the spinners in the afternoon session after a day of attrition. “I think the more the court is used throughout the day, it breaks down and ‘goes’ a little more, so hopefully in the morning it doesn’t go as much,” he said. I don’t see this tone staying the same or changing much.
“I think it’s going to continue to get worse, and I think the good thing about having a couple of closers is that rebound, and I think Carsey [Brydon Carse] and potts [Matthew Potts] They really were incredible during those first innings. We are going to use them again in the second entry. “If the ball is down and one bounces up, we have those options too.”
“If you slow it down to 67-68 kph, that’s when you have grip. If you bowl at specific spots at 90+ you’ll only get the odd break. But there’s nothing to the roulette if you’re bowling at 90+ off the stumps. If you bowl more wide outside the stumps, and slow, that’s where the cracks are, and that’s what we’re looking to exploit.”
