England ready for Pakistan exam in 'rocking hot' Multan
Brendon McCullum has warned his England charges will have their work cut out to replicate their previous success in Pakistan, particularly in the "rocking hot" conditions in Multan.
On their last visit in 2022, on the New Zealander McCullum's first tour as head coach, England claimed a historic 3-0 success and became the first ever away side to claim a three-Test series win in the country.
Having won just two of their previous 24 Tests in Pakistan, it was a remarkable result and one that raises expectations of a repeat performance over the coming weeks, with the first of three matches starting on Monday.
The hosts are doing their best to appear vulnerable, coming in on a losing streak of five in a row, but McCullum is expecting a stern examination.
"What we achieved a couple of years ago was immense and we're very proud of that achievement but if we look at the history of touring teams here in Pakistan, it is probably an outlier rather than anything else," he said.
"We're very realistic as we come to the series, that we're going to have to play well against a very proud sporting nation. Pakistan in their own conditions, as history would suggest, is a bloody tough ask.
The heat is likely to be a big factor, with temperatures around 40 degrees expected and sure to test the resilience of players who arrived from autumnal England less than a week ago.
The 2022 series took place in December, with more accommodating temperatures.
"It's rocking hot for a start," said McCullum, whose side began their acclimatisation with the now customary rounds of golf at their on-site course and have followed up with three days of sapping workouts at the stadium.
"I think it was about 20 degrees last time we came here. We had jumpers on in the morning and it chilled off at night time. The overhead conditions are a little bit more extreme, so that's going to present its own challenges."
There have been some raised eyebrows about the absence of bowling consultant James Anderson from the early days of the tour.
Anderson was outstanding here two years ago but has since retired and will not join the backroom team until day two as he's playing golf in the Pro-Am Links Championship in Scotland.
McCullum was unconcerned about the diary clash, saying: "We have no concerns that Jimmy is over there swinging the clubs. I actually thought he'd miss the cut so he'd get here earlier but he's playing a little bit better! For us it's not an issue whatsoever.
"In the world we live in now the communication is easy, right? He's been in regular contact with the guys. He's doing a great job."
