Chris Woakes expects Pakistan to prepare ‘result matches’ for remaining Tests

England opener Chris Woakes expects Pakistan to prepare result-oriented wickets for the final two Tests after losing the first match of the series. Notably, Pakistan lost the first Test by an innings and 47 runs at the Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan and trailed 0-1 in the three-match series.

Pakistan’s defeat came as a shock to many as they had made a massive score of 556 in the first innings. However, they could not stop England’s fiery batting line-up, which went hammer and tongs into their innings and posted a massive score of 823/7 in their first innings.

PAK vs ENG, 1st Test: Matchday 5 Highlights | Full Scoreboard

After their massive win in the first Test, Woakes said the ball is now in Pakistan’s court, which could prepare green wickets or spinning surfaces for the final two matches.

“There was talk about green surfaces. I guess he had a shade of green on the first day, but he got better and better. The ball is firmly in his court. When it’s a home series and it’s only three games, and you Losing the first one, you’d like to think the next two will be result wickets, whether it’s greens or spinners, we’ll see,” Woakes told reporters after the match.

Chris Woakes dismissed Babar Azam in the first innings

Woakes had a decent start in the first Test as he scored 17* (16) and took 2/110 in two innings which it included the crucial scalp of Babar Azam and Abdullah Shafique. Coming back into the match, after opting to bat first, Pakistan posted a massive score of 556 on the board with centuries from Abdullah Shafique (102), Shan Masood (151) and Agha Salman (104*).

England responded with a mammoth score of 823/7, the fourth highest in the history of the match. Joe Root posted his highest score of 262, while Harry Brook became the sixth England batsman to score a triple hundred in Tests. He made a fiery knock of 317 (322) with the help of 29 fours and three sixes and registered his fourth consecutive hundred for Pakistan in as many Tests.

Courtesy of their efforts, England managed to take a huge lead of 267 runs in the first innings and bundled out Pakistan for just 220 in their second innings to register a historic win.