The three matches test series between touring Pakistan and host England starts at Emirates stadium, Old Trafford, Manchester on 5 August 2020. The two other teats would be played on August 13-17 and August 21-25 and respectively at Rose Bowl, Southampton.
Given the present form and past records Pakistan England test series is expected to be far more evenly contested than the just concluded series between England and West Indies. Pakistan has some top quality pace bowlers and two excellent wicket taking leg spinners.
Pakistan possesses some top quality batsmen. Moreover, CORONA facilitated Pakistan team moving to England almost a month back and getting more time to acclimatise with weather and conditions. Having watched West Indies play three tests back to back Pakistan definitely is now in a far better position to plan their strategy for making the series evenly contested.
It is well past early summer in England. Though rain has not left all together. Clouds appeared almost regularly during the three tests between England and West Indies. Quality West Indies pace attack of Roach , Gabriel and Holder often stressed English batsmen to their limit. But West Indies did not fall back to reserve strength using their back up pacers. Tired and overstressed bowlers could not keep the pressure going. Neither they had quality leg spinner in the team to test English batsman. Pakistan has equally talented pace bowlers like England and have two world class leg spinners. They will test English batting
Pakistan, England head to head test records.
Matches Played 83
Won by England 25
Won by Pakistan 21
Tied 0
Draw 37
% Win Pakistan 25.30
% win England 30.12
% draw 44.57
First Played 1954
Last Played June 2018
Let us now try to analyze how Pakistan can perform? We are aware that Pakistan and England are traditional rivals. The bilateral contests created lots of excitements and tensions in the past. Many top players of Pakistan of the past were very popular in English County Cricket like the great West Indians. During days of Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Yunis, Javed Miandad, Zaheer Abbas, Mustaq Ahmed and Saqlain Mustaq Pakistan dominated England. English cricket could not handle reverse swing mastered by the Pakistanis or the dusras of Saqlain. There were incident when Inzamam-ul-Haq walked out with his team when his bowler was consistently no balled. The infamous incident of spot fixing by talented Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif also led to suspension of these two and captain Salman Butt. Later they were jailed also in England after proved criminal for spot fixing. Hope those evil incidents would not happen.
Pakistan Squad:
Azhar Ali (Captain), Babar Azam (vice-captain), Abid Ali, Assad Shafiq, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan Snr, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Nassem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood, Sohail Khan, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah.
This squad has three quality pace bowlers in Mohammad Abbas, Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah who can be compared in quality with Archer, Wood, Andesron and Woakes. They have Wahab Riaz, Sohail Kahn, Imran Khan and Faheem Ashraf as back up bowlers. Shadab Khan and Yasir Shah are two world class leg spinners who have teased and tormented English batsman in the past. If only Pakistan batsmen can bat consistently well producing 350-400 their quality bowling attack can make life miserable for England. Captain Azhar Ali, quality batsman Babar Ali, opening batsmen Abid Ali and Ima-ul-Haq, middle order batsmen Asad Shafiue, Fawad Alamand Sarfraz Ahmed give greater depth in batting. Pakistan stands bright chance of winning the series from England this time. Off course England now possess a high quality pace attack. This series will see top exhibition of high quality pace attack. The teams are evenly matched. But Pakistan has to improve their fielding and prove athletic in the field.
World cricket will definitely witness an absorbing series of nail biting excitements.
BDST: 1411 HRS, JUL 29, 2020
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