ICC provides 'satisfactory' rating for all three pitches in 2024 England-Pakistan Tests

The International Cricket Council (ICC) awarded a 'satisfactory' rating for all three surfaces used in the recent England-Pakistan Test series in Pakistan. The first two Tests were played in Multan, while the action shifted to Rawalpindi for the final encounter.

The three-match series was a tale of two halves between the pitches for the first Test and the next two Tests. The series opener at Multan saw a batting paradise with Pakistan posting 556 in their first innings and England responding with a gigantic 823/7.

Scoreboard pressure more than the pitch resulted in the hosts succuming to 220 all-out in their second essay and suffering a sixth consecutive Test defeat. The loss was enough reason for Pakistan to play the 'pitch card' on England as they decided on playing on the used Multan surface for the second Test.

The move worked like a dream as the track spun from the get-go and the spin duo of Sajid Khan and Noman Ali made the English batters dance to their tunes. While Pakistan mustered scores of 366 and 221, the visitors folded for 291 and 144 to lose by 152 runs.

The action then shifted to Rawalpindi for the series decider but the nature of the wicket remained similar. In the build up to the Test, large fans and heaters were used to break up the sufarce and keep it dry to aid spin.

And that it did, as the same Pakistan spin duo, who picked up all 20 wickets in the second Test, combined for 19 of the 20 wickets in Rawalpindi. It led to England once again struggling to cope with the turning ball and being bowled out for 267 and 112 to suffer a nine-wicket defeat.

Pakistan finally won a home Test series after early 2021 when they defeat South Africa and much of the conversation post-series was on the spin-friendly pitches.

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"When you're playing at home, you should have home advantage" - Brendon McCullum

England coach had no qualms about the pitch in Multan [Credit: Getty]

While the talks about playing on a used Multan surface in the second Test took centerstage, England coach Brendon McCullum had no issues with Pakistan seizing on home-field advantage.

Before the England series, Pakistan played on seemingly benign pitches in Rawalpindi in their embarassing 0-2 defeat to Bangladesh.

Speaking to the Media after the second Test, McCullum said as quoted by India Today:

"I don't mind [the pitch], actually. I quite like the quirk of it. When you're playing at home, you should have home advantage. I guess after the first Test match, we were able to go 1-0 up something had to give, and they took a punt on it. I don't have a problem with it at all."

England enjoyed tremendous success on relatively lifeless surfaces on their previous tour of Pakistan in 2022. Ben Stokes' men used the aggresive intent with the bat to their advantage on featherbeds to script a 3-0 series whitewash.