After vomiting bug, air pollution the next big test for Ben Stokes' England in Pakistan

England will again need to call on their reserves of stamina in Multan again this week if they are to repeat their stunning victory in the first Test.

It has emerged that Joe Root had to leave the field regularly during the first Test to be sick, the vomiting bug that struck down the squad and nearly caused the postponement of the match remained a problem throughout.

They have now moved to Multan where air pollution will add to the difficulties for both teams. Smoke pollution combined with winter fog has lead to uptick in respiratory illness in the region. Bad light will again be an issue and fog could delay the start too. Stubble burning by farmers at this time of the year in the Punjab exacerbates the problem and is why this series is not featuring a Test match in Lahore, the most polluted city in the region and among the worst in the world at this time of year.

England’s chartered flight between Islamabad and Multan was delayed for more than three hours on Tuesday and they will take another rest day on Wednesday to recover from the a draining first Test before picking up training the day before the match, although the management will make most sessions optional now with so little time to recover between matches.

It is going to be a physical challenge if any of the players fall ill again. "Rooty was off the field every half an hour puking up throughout the game, which was an amazing effort from him to bat the way he did,” said James Anderson.

“The morning of the game, not knowing if we're going to get 11 players on the field or going to bed the night before not knowing if we're going to wake up and there's going to be enough fit players was hard but then the the lads stood up and cracked on, really there's been no whinging.”

Anderson could be rested this week with Mark Wood fit for selection and England believing they have stumbled upon a weakness in the Pakistan side.

They used a short ball barrage with the new ball in the second innings, instead of looking for regulation pitch it up seam movement. They figured was not was not going to swing or seam on a dead pitch so they may as well bang it in, rough up the batsmen and the ball and accelerate reverse swing.

The unintentional consequence was seeing Pakistan captain, and leading player, Babar Azam back away and be caught behind playing a short ball from Ben Stokes. With Wood fit now, they are keen to unleash him at the Pakistan line up.

Ollie Robinson also troubled them too with his bounce and looks fit enough now to handle two Tests in four days in Asian conditions. Robinson is stronger and leaner than he was in the summer and looks more like an international bowler than a county cricketer struggling to make the grade physically like he did in Australia and the West Indies earlier this year.

“I think all the hard work I've put in over the last 18 months, the dark places that I've been, to come here to Pakistan and take 20 wickets on that wicket is my proudest moment as an England cricketer. Definitely,” said Robinson.

When asked if he can do it again in Multan starting on Friday he replied: “Yeah, I do actually. Yeah, I feel like a couple of days of rest and a little training session before the second test and I'll be okay. I'll get a couple of ice baths and a bit of treatment from the physio, a few rub downs, and hopefully be ready to go.”

His skill has never been in doubt. He now averages 20.21 after 12 Tests with 56 wickets. He would really prove a point if he could make not through this series bowling at full tilt and staying fit.

He is close to Anderson, and the pair have been responsible for the majority of the teams bowling plans. Robinson is clearly learning from Anderson, being aggressive towards batsmen and trying to pick a battle when things go flat.

“I think that's part of my game, trying to get under their skin. And I felt like we did that with a few of their batters and got them out of their bubble playing a few shots that they might not have played,” said Robinson.

“I think that's part of the game isn't it? Try and get a bit out of the opposition and it makes it more enjoyable as well. So yeah, I followed Jimmy.”