Pakistan are in flux while the tourists are more settled, but the toss will be crucial for both in the decisive third Test

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.”