Stokes opens up about ‘completely different’ Pakistan tour
First Test begins on December 1 in Rawalpindi
ABU DHABI: England captain Ben Stokes is upbeat ahead of the three-match Test series against Pakistan.
The England all-rounder is looking forward to the challenge posed by conditions in the sub-continent and especially the different nature of pitches.
“I'm very excited," Stokes was quoted as saying by The National. “The summer went really well for us in conditions that I know, and we all know as a team, so it's exciting to come away somewhere completely different in sub-continent conditions where whatever team tours finds it very difficult. It's going to be completely different to the summer.”
England held a week-long red-ball camp in Abu Dhabi ahead of the series against Pakistan in order to prepare adequately for the Test matches.
“We've got everything available to us,” he added. “The nets out back have got different types of surfaces because we're not quite sure what we're going to get in Pakistan in terms of wickets.
“We've been lucky to have some wickets that do a bit and some wickets that are a bit drier to help the lads prepare for the challenges that the spinners will present, so it's been really good,” he further stated.
Stokes, who has featured in 86 Tests for England, also lauded the facilities in Abu Dhabi.
“We've been very spoilt. The facilities here are of one of the highest quality that I can remember since being out here,” he said.
“We've got the amazing net facilities out the back and then with all the squares, to be able to have a practice game between the Test team and the Lions has been really good so hopefully we can come back here in the future as well,” he added.
The England team will arrive in Pakistan on November 27 for the much-anticipated tour, with the first Test set to take place in Rawalpindi from December 1.
This will be the first time England will play a Test in Rawalpindi, which has previously staged 12 matches with the home side winning five and losing three.
The second Test moves to Multan starting on Friday, December 9, and the final Test of the tour will take place at the National Stadium in Karachi, commencing on Saturday, December 17.
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