 The first ODI between England and Pakistan will be played on September 10 at Chester-le-Street. It is going to be a day match. Pakistan has already
struggled on this tour so far, having lost the Test series 3-1 and the T20I series
2-0. What has been worse for them are the allegations of match-fixing and spot-fixing,
that had almost meant that the series was not going to take place.
Click for Live Score Card of England Vs PakistanIn the two T20Is that were played before the start of the ODIs, it was very
evident that even the change of personnel could not change the perennial problems
that the Pakistanis have faced on this tour. Their batting has been of a club
level and the manner in which they have been getting out cannot augur well for
them. And one cannot blame it on the ill-effects from all the media focus that
the match fixing scandal got because the issues had been a part of the Tests
as well.
What Pakistani needs to now do in the ODIs is to ensure that they do not collapse
in the face of some short and hostile bowling. In the second T20I, the Pakistani
side struggled to play the bouncers and five of the batsmen got out to the short
ball.
The bowling has largely remained untested because of this - lack of runs for
the side. This has also meant that the side has not got off to too many situations
in which they have dominated the proceedings.
England were clinical in the two T20Is that were played in the series. They
got the Pakistanis restricted to 125 in one game and when they tried to get
going and score 140, the English side bowled them out for 89 in the second match.
The good thing from England's point is that on the same pitch at Cardiff, it
was the spinners in the first T20I who did the job for the side, while the quick
bowlers joined the party in the second T20I.
The ODIs will probably see a change or two in the English side. For one, the
captain, Andrew Strauss will return to lead the team. Secondly, one felt
that the batting line-up needed an extra batsman and so, there is a good chance
that England may get in Jonathon Trott in the line-up. Fortunately for
the English team, Michael Yardy is doing a fairly decent job with the
bat and hence, the side should not have too many worries when they go into the
game against Pakistan.
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