**The Spin | England Benefits from Durham's Commitment to Fast-Bowling Excellence** Durham's men’s team had a successful summer in Division One, and the excitement is building for the women’s team as well. Chester-le-Street and Multan may seem like an unlikely pair. One is nestled in the chilly, steady climate of north-east England, just 10 miles from the North Sea, while the other is located in southern Punjab, where the weather is hot and dry, currently reaching the high 30s, surrounded by lush mango farms. However, for the second Test against Pakistan, Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum made a bold decision in the face of these contrasting conditions. They opted for an all-Durham seam attack for the first time in the history of English cricket. Stokes was supported by Matthew Potts and Brydon Carse, while the spin department was bolstered by Somerset's Shoaib Bashir and Jack Leach. This highlights the growing influence of Durham's dedication to fast-bowling excellence, which is now being recognized on the international stage.

Alastair Cook has hailed Joe Root as a “genius” and a “run-scoring machine” after the 33-year-old surpassed Cook's record to become England's highest Test run-scorer. This milestone came during an impressive innings where Root scored an unbeaten 176 on the third day of the first Test in Pakistan. Root's remarkable performance came after he batted for eight hours in the sweltering heat of Multan. Alongside him, Harry Brook also made a significant contribution, remaining not out on 141. Their efforts helped England reach a total of 492 for three at the end of the day, leaving them just 64 runs short of Pakistan's first innings total. Cook expressed confidence in Root's continued success, stating, “I don’t see Root losing his hunger.”