by Brendon McCullum has warned England will have their work cut out to replicate their previous success in Pakistan, particularly in the “very hot” conditions in Multan.
On their final visit in 2022, McCullum’s first tour as head coach, they achieved a historic 3-0 success and became the first away team to achieve a 3-0 series victory in the country.
Having won just two of their previous 24 Tests in Pakistan, this is a remarkable result which raises hopes of a repeat performance in the coming weeks.
The hosts are doing their best to look vulnerable, snapping a five-game losing streak, but McCullum expects a tough examination.
“What we achieved a few years ago was immense and we are very proud of it, but if we look at the history of the touring teams here in Pakistan, it is probably an exception rather than anything else,” a- he declared.
“We are very realistic going into the series and believe we are going to have to play well against a very proud sporting nation. Pakistan, on its own terms, as history suggests, is an extremely difficult issue.
“They are also going to be fiercely competitive to topple us. This isn’t going to be easy.
Heat is likely to be a big factor, with temperatures around 40 degrees expected and sure to test the resilience of players who arrived from Autumn England less than a week ago.
The 2022 series took place in December, with more accommodating temperatures, and McCullum’s men will face the demands of the climate as much as the skills of the opposition.
“It’s very hot to begin with,” said McCullum, whose team began its acclimatization with the now-customary rounds of golf at its on-site course and followed up with three days of practice at the stadium.
“I think it was about 20 degrees the last time we were here. We wore sweaters in the morning and relaxed at night. The air conditions are a little more extreme, which will present its own challenges.
“The first few days we got here, when we were on the golf course, it was very hot, it was very difficult to hold your club, so that was one of our biggest concerns. But since then, we seem to have gotten used to it.
“The guys say now it’s a lot cooler and they don’t sweat as much. We’re trying to do whatever it takes to keep the guys’ body temperatures down and ready to go out and we’re confident we’ll be able to control that.
Playing smart and making the most of the surface will be crucial to limiting their time in the sun, prompting raised eyebrows over the absence of bowling consultant James Anderson from the opening days of the tour.
Anderson was outstanding here two years ago but has since been pushed into retirement and will only join the backroom team on the second day of the first Test due to his involvement in the Alfred Dunhill Links Pro-Am Championship.
McCullum was unconcerned about the newspaper conflict, adding: “It’s an incredible sign that two months after taking a role on the coaching staff, everyone (in the media) misses him desperately.” .
“We have no concerns about Jimmy being out there swinging the clubs. In fact, I thought he would miss the cut so he would arrive earlier but he is playing a little better! For us this is not a problem at all.
“In the world we live in today, communication is easy, right? He is in regular contact with the guys. He does an excellent job.
“It’s a really impressive development for him to go from being a player to being in a position where he brings so much to us.”
