England win toss, choose to bat first against Pakistan

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England won the toss and elected to bat first against Pakistan for the four-match Test series at The Oval.

Pakistan Captain Misbah-ul-Haq said we would have also chosen to bat first if we had won the toss.

Pakistan needs to take 20 wickets at The Oval, if they are to draw level.

They didn’t manage it at Edgbaston last week where England declared their second innings on 445 for six.

After losing the first Test at Lord’s by 75 runs, England has bounced back with victories by 330 runs and 141 runs at Old Trafford and Edgbaston respectively.

A recurring scene throughout the series has been the sight of Pakistan’s four-man attack tiring badly during prolonged spells in the field.

The tourists lack an all-rounder of the calibre of England rising star Chris Woakes, with out-of-form opening batsman Mohammad Hafeez, who made two and nought at Edgbaston, still barred from bowling his off-spinners because of an illegal action.

England could go top of the world Test rankings for the first time since 2012 if they win at The Oval and India do not emerge victorious in both of the remaining matches of their series away to the West Indies.