 England will host Pakistan in a four Test match series, and the first of the games
will be played on Thursday at Nottingham. Pakistan will go into the game after
having beaten Australia at Headingley and will have their confidence sky-rocketing,
whereas England have won series against Bangladesh on two successive occasions
and have yet to lose a series since winning the last Ashes in 2009.
Click for Live Score Card of England Vs PakistanPakistan will know that they will go into the series needing to perform consistently
over a period of four games. But it will do them good if they are able to ensure
that they start off well. Usually, Pakistan is a slow starter in any series,
but the good news for them is that they have already played a couple of Test
matches in the country and would have got themselves attuned to the pitches.
The batsmen will have a fair idea of what to expect, whereas the strong bowling
attack will also understand what kinds of lines and lengths to bowl at the opposition.
Pakistan will thank Salman Butt for their resurrection given that it
was the first game that they won against Australia for more than a decade and
a half. But, one must remember that the win was achieved thanks to the bowlers
in conditions that suited them rather well. What needs to be seen is whether
the side can bowl equally effectively in those conditions which do not assist
the pace bowlers.
Having said that, it will be foolhardy to think that the English bowlers are
not as good. James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Tim Bresnan are three of
the better ones in business, but one gets the sense that Steven Finn, who was
not chosen for the Australia ODIs, may be selected ahead of Bresnan. Finn is
tipped to be one of the best prospects for England, and could almost be selected
for the Ashes, if he has a good bowl or two in the series against Pakistan.
From the batting perspective, it is in this department that the English team
will score over Pakistan. They possess a strong opening and middle-order,
something that the Pakistanis will struggle with. The good news for them is
that Kevin Pietersen is back after missing out a few games due to injury
and so is Paul Collingwood.
Eoin Morgan should take up Ian Bell's position in the middle-order and that
should make it one of the strongest batting line-ups as well.
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