Pakistan and England will meet in a series decider in Rawalpindi. The 3rd Test of three starts on Thursday. England are the favorites. But Pakistan will come into the match with momentum after thumping England in the second match to level the series. In our latest cricket betting picks, we look ahead to the fixture and tell you who will win.
- Who: Pakistan vs. England
- What: 3rd Test of three (1-1)
- Where: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
- When: Oct 24th - Oct 28th
All to play for in Rawalpindi
The series stands at one win apiece. England won the first Test after posting a ridiculous 823/7 declared in their first innings. The visitors went on to win the match by an innings and 47 runs.
Then in an unprecedented - but not illegal - move, Pakistan played the second match on the same pitch in Multan.
The hosts won the toss and cashed in on the better batting conditions on day one, and after two batting collapses by England, Pakistan won the second match by 152 runs to level the series.
Now, it's all to play for in the third and final Test in Rawalpindi.
The pitch in Rawalpindi traditionally suits the quick bowlers. But Pakistan captain Shan Masood has requested a pitch that takes spin from early in the match. He knows that gives his team their most obvious route to victory against an England side that struggles in these conditions.
Whether the ground staff can adequately alter the conditions enough in such a short space of time remains to be seen.
One thing for certain is Pakistan is trying. Giant industrial-sized fans have been spotted blowing cool air onto the pitch in an attempt to try it out. Outdoor heaters and windbreakers have also been used.
Aaqib Javed bowled on the pitch selected for the third Test between Pak and Eng in Rawalpindi to 'gauge the amount of turn' š¤Æ
Read the desperate measures Pakistan are taking to emulate Multan in Pindi by @ahsannagi https://t.co/qOuNd8FD89#PAKvENG pic.twitter.com/PPpgiUtoVC
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) October 22, 2024
It all seems a bit last minute. But if the hosts can get it to work, they believe they can defeat England in the final match and clinch the series.
Pakistan vs England: Match Betting
In the latest 3rd Test betting, England is the favorite in the cricket betting odds. England is +100 to win on the money line. A second-successive win for Pakistan is +140, with the draw being +600.
In the Player of the Match betting Englandās Joe Root is the favorite at +650. Pakistan spinner Norman Ali is second in the betting at +800, with Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, and Jack Leach, all of England, at +900. Also at +900 is Sajid Khan of Pakistan.
Englandās Harry Brook was the Player of the Match in the 1st Test, a fitting reward for his 317 runs in the 1st innings.
In the second Test, Norman Ali and Sajid Khan shared all 20 of Englandās wickets to fall. Despite Ali taking 11 wickets in the match, Khan was named Player of the Match due to his seven wickets in Englandās 1st innings when the game was in the balance.
Pakistan gamble pays off
The hosts pressed the panic button ahead of the 2nd Test in Multan. Out went Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah.
The move to drop three of their best players shocked everyone. But, it seemed to work as the hosts won the 2nd Test and leveled the series.
But let's look at the bigger picture here. The pitch broke up on the second day. Pakistan won the toss and batted first. As a result, they got to use the pitch on the only day it played true. Meaning it was effectively, win the toss, and win the match.
That isnāt a long-term tactic for success. Had the hosts lost the toss, they probably would have lost the match, and with it the series, as well.
What Pakistanās tactics did show is that England is very vulnerable to slow spin bowling in sub-continent conditions. In fairness, tās not news. Itās been the case with England for years.
So the hosts will approach this Test match with a similar game plan. The difference this time is they will believe they have already put doubts in the minds of the English batters.
Pakistan wonāt be relying on the pitch breaking up in this match. They will expect to beat England with spin regardless of how the pitch behaves.
England go with three spinners
England may have already been spooked by the attempts to alter the pitch. They have already named a starting XI that includes three front-line spinners.
Rehan Ahmed has been recalled to play the third spinner role. Ahmed returns to the side with Gus Atkinson. Brydon Carse and Matthew Potts are the two players who drop out.
Pakistan vs. England betting picks
The best cricket betting online sites are favoring England. We say that it is more of a 50/50 call.
If the pitch takes a spin, England could struggle. But letās not forget if the pitch remains true for the opening day or two, and England is batting, they could bat the hosts out of the match.
The team that wins the toss will likely win the match.
For our betting picks, we are backing Jack Leach and Norman Ali in the Player of the Match market.
The England spinner is the leading wicket-taker in the series with 14 victims. If England is to win the match, it could be Leach that does the damage.
The same applies to Pakistan. A spinner will likely win the match.
Norman Ali was unlucky not to be Player of the Match in the 2nd Test. If he produces a similar performance in the 3rd, he will likely pick up the reward.
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