England's return to Rawalpindi brings with it reminders of one of the nation's great away wins, secured here just under two years ago, and with them perhaps a small but nevertheless handy bump to a few players' morale. "That was a mega win, wasn't it?" said Harry Brook. "Hopefully we can take some of that confidence and momentum and bring it into this game."
Ben Stokes certainly felt a spring in his step when he first walked back on to the ground where, in the dying moments of the final day, Jack Leach winkled out the last wicket to secure a remarkable victory. Or at least, what he thought was that ground. "When we turned up at the first Test I said to Leachy, 'Oh, some great memories here!' he said. 'And it was the wrong place.'"
Yesterday, in the right location, Stokes was reminiscing again. 'Wherever you go around the world, if certain things happen like that, you're always going to remember those things,' he said. 'Every player will have grounds where they can walk in and they'll just go straight back to something special that happened to them.'
Denne historien er fra October 23, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
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Denne historien er fra October 23, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
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Are the players at Old Trafford good enough for a new face to inspire future title challenges?
Rrik ten Hag is culled while players paid millions to realise Manchester United's on-field product remain, posting heartfelt \"thank you boss\" farewells on social media while still collecting their lucrative pay-packets.
Israeli strike on flats in northern Gaza kills at least 93
Scores of Palestinians, including many women and children, have been killed in an Israeli airstrike on a crowded block of flats in the town of Beit Lahiya as Israel pressed on with its assault on northern Gaza.
Amorim on his way United ready to pay £8.3m for Sporting head coach
Amorim led Sporting from despair but testing waters await
The 39-year-old built a legacy in Lisbon on consistency and charisma but his hiring would be a major gamble. Can he transfer his watchwords to the Theatre of Dreams?
Flekken's shootout stop spares Bees' blushes
Brentford reached the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup after beating Sheffield Wednesday 5-4 on penalties.
Clinton shows England have generational midfield talent on their hands
It is debatable precisely how much can be gleaned from this workout against a team ranked 50th in the world who lost 5-0 to Denmark on Friday but, if England can take one certainty from this victory, it is this: in Grace Clinton, they have found a generational midfielder who they can build the team around for at least the next four major tournaments.
Wiegman's shuffled pack stumble to sloppy victory
There were more questions to be asked than answers provided in England's 2-1 win over South Africa, but, to a certain extent, friendlies are when they can afford to be far from their best.
England take a punt on Bethell for NZ tour
Warwickshire's Jacob Bethell appears to be England's latest punt, with the 21-year-old batter named in the 16-man Test squad for the upcoming tour of New Zealand.
New Test keeper Cox will not don gloves in West Indies white-ball series
The new England Test wicketkeeper Jordan Cox will not take the gloves against West Indies after being told to \"concentrate on his batting\" for the white-ball series.
Head coach opts for continuity but wants a fast and furious England to face the All Blacks
Far-reaching implications, pivotal decisions, an expectant nation. But let's not dwell on Rachel Reeves's mega budget and instead examine the intricacies of Steve Borthwick's first autumnal England team selection.
