England’s preparation for Pakistan Test series to be affected by the Hundred

England players will have to suffice with just one training session ahead of the three-Test series against Pakistan, as they face a tight schedule due to the Hundred. The competition, which will run from July 21 to August 16, will require both female and male players to be available during that window.

Lord’s to Headingley in two days

With the opening Test against Pakistan scheduled to be played on August 19 at Headingley, English Test players involved in the later stages of the Hundred will only have a couple of days to gear up for an entirely different format.

This quick turnaround could be further shortened if the Hundred final uses its reserve day on August 17. If that happens, players involved in the final will have to enter the series without any training at all.

England’s scheduling fiasco

It is understood that England’s management suggested bringing the players, especially pacers, to train at the national performance centre in Loughborough during the Hundred. However, the Hundred franchises dismissed the suggestion, saying the training would increase the players’ workload.

This is not the first time the Hundred schedule has affected England’s international commitments. Last year, the competition ended just 36 hours before England were to play an ODI game against South Africa.

England currently sit in seventh place in the World Test Championship (WTC) table, having lost six out of their ten Tests this cycle. Things going south for them against Pakistan could very well mean an early end to their already dwindling WTC final hopes.

 

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