The Yorker Length –
Given the conditions, after a stupendously successful 2011, the Pakistan cricket team will be looking at the year 2012 will lots of optimism and sanguinity, which commences with a tough series against England in the UAE. This is going to be Pakistan’s most exacting test for quite some time.
The team itself is a nice blend of youth and experience and is on an upward curve. However they will be up against Andrew Strauss and England – the number one Test team in the world, brimful of talented and experienced cricketers. There is no doubt that England is a well-rounded unit, with all bases covered.
England’s main strength lies in their batting. Andrew Strauss and Alistair Cook as openers are well settled right-left combination, with Jonathan Trott at number three, Kevin Pietersen at four, with Ian Bell and Eoin Morgan in the middle order and perhaps the best wicketkeeper batsman in business today, Matt Prior coming in at number seven. This England squad arguably has the most proficient Test lineup today.
Strauss and Cook form a skillful opening pair at the top and both have been in fine form for the last two years. Jonathan Trott at number three is a complete batsman, having an insatiable appetite to accumulate in the orthodox manner. At number four, Pietersen is indeed one of the finest attacking batsmen around. At number five, transformed himself into a reliable article in the last couple of years and was England’s best in Tests last year with 950 runs at 118.75. At No 6, there is that sensational southpaw Eoin Morgan, who actually is ambidextrous and can be devastating on his day. To round it off, Prior is technically correct and can score really well if the top order has failed, with a tail that can wag.
Pakistan bowlers will have their work cut out against this England batting on good UAE pitches. England’s bowling attack too is an attractive combination. James Anderson and Stuart Broad will open the bowling. Anderson is an intelligent seamer while Broad will hit the deck hard and trouble the batsmen with his height. There is competition between Chris Tremlett, Steve Finn and Graham Onions for the third seamer’s spot with Tremlett having an edge if England opt for three seamers. And then you have Graeme Swann – a high class off-spinner who relies more on his off spinning variations than going for away going Doosras.
Swann is the one who can really trouble the Pakistani batsmen given their susceptibility against high quality spin. England might opt to play two spinners keeping in view the conditions which will bring Monty Panesar in the mix. Monty is back after some time, staking his claims for Test spot with eight wickets in the side game against PCB XI.
This Pakistan side may not have many star players in their ranks but they are a cohesive and proficient unit which knows what is expected of them and know how to play well within their capabilities. While opener Mohammad Hafeez has been really good in the last year or so Taufeeq Umar has also managed to get runs, though there seems to be some reluctance in his overall batting. Taufeeq still needs to prove it to himself before everyone else that he can deliver at this level after 10 years of international cricket under his belt. He will be well served if he tries to be more positive.
Azhar Ali is going to bat at three and this can be a big series for him. He has recently scored his first Test ton after a string of fifties and Pakistan will require solidity and runs from him in this series.
Much will depend on how Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq fare in this rubber. Both are experienced pros and will be required to lead Pakistan’s charges with not only good batting by themselves but also by taking the youngsters alongside. At number six one feels that Umar Akmal should get the nod ahead of Asad Shafiq as Pakistanwill need his firepower in the middle order as Shafiq has proved to be pretty cocooned in his batting. Akmal looked full of intent in domestic cricket as well on the Bangladesh tour and playing him here will be a good bet.
In the bowling department it’s high time Umar Gul takes the step up and prove his mettle at the Test level and this could be that series. He has got everything in him which a top notch Test bowler should have but despite having good times in limited overs cricket he hasn’t been able to deliver that much in Tests. For Umar Gul’s partner there will be stiff competition between Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan and Aizaz Cheema. Although Cheema has taken wickets lately but one feels that Wahab Riaz has pace and Junaid Khan has talent and variation which will be much needed against a formidable England batting line. Saeed Ajmal will be the main weapon for Pakistan in this series but he will be well advised to shun over-experimentation and bowl more off spinners. Off late Ajmal has started bowling way too many “Doosras” and it can be sooner rather than later that he gets picked up by the top sides. If Pakistan go for two spinners than they have another reliable performer in Abdur Rehman. The leftie can be really good with his variations and can prove to be a real test for Kevin Pietersen given his susceptibility against left arm spinners.
All said and done it will be an exciting series given the fact that both teams have good teams on hand and both have been playing good cricket in recent times. Pakistan needs to be positive and give it their all and there is no reason why they can beat England which will be a massive lift for them. For England they need to prove themselves in all conditions. They might have beaten Australia in Australia last year but playing against Pakistan in this neck of the woods can be a totally different ball game for them.
