Jason Gillespie, the head coach of Pakistan’s red-ball cricket team, has offered valuable insights into England's aggressive playing style as the two nations gear up for a highly anticipated three-match Test series beginning on October 7. The former Australian fast bowler, who took the reins of the Pakistan team earlier this year, is determined to turn the tide following a disappointing series loss to Bangladesh on home soil.
Gillespie acknowledged the evolution of England's approach to Test cricket, often referred to as "Bazball." However, he expressed his preference to steer clear of that term, emphasizing his own strategy for tackling the formidable English side.
"It’s very clear how England approaches their cricket. I don’t particularly like the term “Bazball,” but they do play aggressive cricket. We’ve seen them evolve their game and that’s how they want to play," Gillespie stated on a podcast.
He continued, outlining Pakistan's game plan: "We will play our way, striving to be a consistent and disciplined team that hangs in there and strikes at the right moment to drive the game forward and exploit gaps. That’s our strategy."
Gillespie also addressed the external criticism surrounding the Pakistan cricket team, noting that many pundits have written them off ahead of the series. "A lot of people are writing us off, and that’s okay - that’s fine. It will only motivate our boys a little bit more. We’ll go out and do our jobs as best we can, and hopefully, the results will take care of themselves."
The last time England’s Test side visited Pakistan was in December 2022, where Pakistan suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat in the three-match series.
The last time England's Test team toured Pakistan was in December 2022, when Pakistan endured a crushing 3-0 defeat in the three-match series.
Notably, the upcoming series, set to begin on October 7th in Multan, is part of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle.
Pakistan squad for first Test against England: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper), and Shaheen Shah Afridi, Zahid Mehmood.
England squad for Pakistan Test series: Ben Stokes (C), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.
Revised schedule: