Why Did Pakistan Beat England in the 2024 Test Series?

Earlier in the year, Pakistan struggled against England's varied pace attack during a four-match T20I series from May 22 to May 30, 2024. Jos Buttler captained his side to a 2-0 victory at Edgbaston and The Oval, earning Player of the Series honors with an impressive 123 runs before rain washed out the remaining fixtures in Leeds and Cardiff. In those English conditions, pace and swing were lethal weapons. Babar Azam's squad found themselves outmatched by the depth of England's fast bowling reserves, a tactical disadvantage that seemed entirely absent just months later.

The October Test cycle, played as part of the 2023–2025 ICC World Test Championship, flipped that dynamic entirely. Shan Masood took over the captaincy for Pakistan, facing Ben Stokes across the pitch. Rather than relying on outright pace, Pakistan exploited their home advantage by leaning heavily into spin. The turning point arrived in the second match at Multan Cricket Stadium, where the surface deteriorated rapidly. Pakistan's spinners found the exact narrow channels outside off stump that force batters into awkward defensive strokes, mirroring the tight accuracy of legendary pace bowlers but executing it with sharp turn.

Sajid Khan emerged as the definitive answer to England's lineup. Named Player of the Series, his accuracy completely neutralized England's aggressive mid-order tactics. He consistently hit the right lengths, leaving batters with no margin for error. England’s bowling, which relies so heavily on varied pace and bounce, looked visibly blunted on the flat, slow surfaces of Rawalpindi by the third Test. They lacked the sustained spin threat needed to force errors when their fast bowlers could not break through.

Ultimately, Pakistan secured a decisive 2-1 series victory because they possessed the specific tools required for their own backyard. The depth of a bowling attack matters, but as this tour proved, having the right type of depth for the specific conditions matters more. Adapting to the immediate environment proved far more effective than relying on a static strategy that had worked half a world away.