No problem with Multan pitch, Pakistan deserve credit: Brendon McCullum

England coach Brendon McCullum claimed that he had no issues with the Multan pitch that was used for the second Test against Pakistan. The hosts won the match by 152 runs with Sajid Khan and Noman Ali picking up all 20 wickets.

In Short

• Pakistan won the match by 152 runs
• McCullum has no issues with Pakistan trying to exercise home advantage
• The third and final Test will start in Rawalpindi from October 24.

England coach Brendon McCullum had no complaints about the Multan pitch for the second Test against Pakistan and claimed that the hosts deserve credit for the win. Pakistan levelled the series 1-1 with a 152-run win in the second Test on Friday, October 18. As compared to the track for the first Test, the one used for the second one was more spin-friendly.

This proved to be the reason for England's downfall as Pakistan spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan picked up all 20 wickets to script the win. 32 out of the 40 wickets in the match went to spin. Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, McCullum said Pakistan got enough runs on the board and praised their spinners.

PAK vs ENG 2nd Test, Day 4: Report | Scorecard | Highlights

The England coach said he liked the quirk of the Multan pitch. McCullum felt that playing at home, the hosts should have the advantage and he had no issues with Pakistan taking the punt with it.

"Credit to Pakistan, they were able to get enough runs on the board and the way their spinners operated was simply outstanding. They put us under a lot of pressure and we weren't quite able to respond. But there's some stuff to be proud of and we look forward to the next Test."

"I don't mind [the pitch], actually. I quite like the quirk of it. When you're playing at home, you should have home advantage. I guess after the first Test match, we were able to go 1-0 up something had to give, and they took a punt on it. I don't have a problem with it at all," said McCullum.

'290 on a 9th day track was difficult'

McCullum said that getting 290 runs on a 9th day track was going to be difficult and using sweeps and reverse sweeps was the only way.

"290 on a ninth day surface against spinners that know how to bowl in these conditions was always going to be a difficult proposition. The method of sweeping and reverse sweeping and trying to put some pressure on the opposition was really the only way. We weren't able to get there and we lost a few wickets with that method, but we saw in this Test that if you tried to sit in then it was nigh-on impossible," said McCullum.

The third and final Test will start in Rawalpindi from October 24.