‘Beating Pakistan in Pakistan is massive’ – England Test skipper Ben Stokes on their historic Test series win

England Test skipper Ben Stokes applauded his team’s “special” victory against Pakistan at the Multan Cricket Stadium which helped them to a historic series win on Pakistan soil. They defeated Pakistan in Rawalpindi and then at Multan by 26 runs. The Three Lions have never won two test matches on a tour to Pakistan so far but the skipper-coach duo of Stokes and Brendon McCullum helped their side to do this miracle in the City of Saints.

England speedster Mark Wood took two crucial wickets to swing the momentum firmly in favour of the tourists after Pakistan’s 80-run seventh-wicket partnership threatened England‘s record. However, the hosts were unable to handle the pressure, they dropped from 290-5 to all out for 328 chasing 355 after beginning the day on 198 for four and needing 157 runs to win with six wickets left. 

We’ve got this bug still floating around the dressing room: Ben Stokes

Stokes stated that England recognized the seriousness of the situation when they won their first series there since 2000–01. “Coming into this game, being 1-0 up before we’d bowled a ball, I think we all understood what we could achieve before we started this game,” said the England captain quoted in Sky Sports.

“We’re not naive in the fact of what we know we’ve achieved here because we know how tough it is. Not just for English teams to come and win here but any team. Pakistan are a huge threat in their own conditions. Not for one minute are we going to think it’s just another Test series win. Beating Pakistan in Pakistan is massive. We know what we’ve achieved, we know that it’s a very special thing in English cricket to come here and win,” he added.

“It was a strange feeling there, the celebrations at the end winning the series just because compared to last week. We’ve got this bug still floating around the dressing room that we just can’t seem to get rid of. I think it was just a sign of how tired the lads were there, mentally and physically. We know what we’ve achieved and another great win for us,” said England all-rounder.