Thursday, August 26, 2010
LONDON: The series between England and Pakistan could not have been poised at a better juncture. It’s the underdogs who look all set to make a meal of this series at the home of cricket at Lords from today. But England is hurt and both teams are set to fight it out to the best of their ability with the series tantalisingly poised at 2-1 in England’s favour.A Pakistan win will draw the series and cap off a remarkable comeback for Salman Butt’s men who were down and out after losing the first two matches at Trent Bridge, Nottingham and Edgbaston, Birmingham with a lot of comfort.
A major reshuffle in team selection allowed Pakistan to win the Oval test which was orchestrated by a splendid bowling effort led by Mohammad Aamer, Wahab Riaz and Saeed Ajmal. Moreover, an assured batting performance by veteran Mohammad Yousuf, who is making a comeback to the team, and Azhar Ali, who scored a crucial unbeaten 92 in the first innings of the match, allowed Pakistan a comfortable but nervy chase towards the finish line.
Yousuf will be pivotal to Pakistan’s chances at Lord’s as he returns to the venue where he scored a magical double century when Pakistan played England in a test match four years ago.
The right-hander who returned to the national fold after taking back his retirement last month looked in regal touch playing the ball late to counter the swing and spin of the English bowling attack that has kept the Pakistanis under check throughout the series.
The positive for Pakistan is that most of their top order batsmen had a decent outing at the Brit Oval and should be in a positive frame of mind for the final test.
Skipper Salman Butt scored 48 in the second innings, while Imran Farhat and make shift opener Yasir Hameed who was drafted in the team for the first time in the summer at Oval scored handy thirties.
These three are at the top of the order for Pakistan and would be the key for the visitors if they are to finally get a substantial start to their innings.
The bowling on the other hand has been absolutely outstanding throughout the summer, starting with the Lords test against Australia. Plus, it is simply the bowlers who have kept the team in the hunt.
A win at Lords would mean that Pakistan ends the test tour on a high with the satisfaction of drawing two extremely tough series against the Australians and the hosts in the midst of some disastrous performances with the bat.
On the other hand, the English team will be hoping for an improved performance by their batsmen who failed to get going at the Oval and surrendered meekly after coming in a strong position especially in the second innings.
Opener Alastair Cook who had endured a wretched time in the first two tests roared back brilliantly in the second innings at the Oval when his position was at stake.
However, his opening partner and captain Andrew Strauss is in need of some runs following a twin failure at the Oval. Moreover, Paul Collingwood looked ordinary ever since his half century in the first innings of the first test.
The hosts have been rescued twice by their wicketkeeper batsman Matt Prior, and would hope for more of the same from their stroke player.
His counterpart Kamran Akmal has had a torrid time in the series, accumulating a mere 10 runs in four innings with three ducks.
The Lords test is crucial for Akmal if he has to keep his place in the test team following an outstanding debut performance by Zulqarnain Haider in the second match of the series. Akmal only got his chance at the Oval after Zulqarnain sustained a finger injury.
The match starts at 11:00 am local time.
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