“Perfect”, “process” and “belief” were keywords used by England captain Ben Stokes to describe a 3-0 Test series victory in Pakistan. A perfect team effort induced by following an atypical but effective process comprising of a lot of belief to execute the same in all these England players’ first Test series in Pakistan made this team only the second one to affect a Test whitewash in this country.
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Needing only 55 runs to win the third Test match in Karachi, England batter Ben Duckett and Stokes took less than an hour to seal a 167-run chase without any discomfort. With Duckett hitting the winning boundary, Stokes missed out on hitting a six and surpassing head coach and former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum on the list of most sixes in Test cricket.
Nonetheless, Stokes was generous enough to throw the limelight on his bowlers believing that they stood up when needed the most. With England picking a total of 60 wickets throughout the series, the feat wouldn’t have been possible without contributions from their bowlers on pitches which weren’t very conducive for bowling.
Ben Stokes recalls emotional Rehan Ahmed father during son’s cap presentation in Karachi Test
Stokes, who refrained from taking names of star performers on the tour to save time from reciting a long list of players, did end up praising batter Harry Brook and spinner Rehan Ahmed in particular.
Having made a name for himself during a seven-match T20I series in Pakistan before ICC T20 World Cup 2022, Brook won his maiden Player of the Series award in Test cricket on the back of emerging as the highest run-scorer in this series.
Ahmed, meanwhile, picked a maiden five-wicket haul to become the youngest debutant to do the same in this format. A regular attendee at the National Stadium throughout the four days, Ahmed’s father Naeem Ahmed was seen getting emotional on at least a couple of occasions in Karachi.
“Every person has stood up at some point but Harry Brook has been unbelievable for us. He’s set Pakistan on fire, the calmness and belief is high class,” Stokes told the host broadcaster during the post-match presentation ceremony.
“And Rehan [Ahmed], 18 years old, the belief he’s got in himself, he’s not a finished article but to affect the game as he has done. I won’t forget that cap presentation. That experience itself was incredible. His dad was so emotional and proud and I’m sure his Mum would be incredibly proud back home as well.”
