Rehan Ahmed joins Leach and Bashir in XI for RawalpindiStokes to step up in attack with Atkinson sole pace option
England have decided that Pakistan’s innovative attempts to produce a turning pitch in Rawalpindi are likely to prove successful and have picked an extra spinner for the final and deciding Test of the series, with Rehan Ahmed coming into the side for the first time since February.
Rehan’s legspin will give England an alternative to the offspin of Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir at the expense of seam bowling depth: Brydon Carse and Matt Potts both drop out of the side leaving the returning Gus Atkinson as the only specialist pace bowler. The selection suggests that Ben Stokes feels ready to contribute more than the five overs in each innings that he managed on his return from injury in the second Test in Multan.
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