With Pakistan’s Mohammad Amir set to make a high-profile return to Test cricket at Lord’s on Thursday, England pacer Stuart Broad admitted that the 24-year-old has the ability to cause serious damage to the hosts.
Amir was one of the hottest properties in cricket in 2010, and is now playing again after serving his five-year suspension due to spot-fixing charges.
Speaking about the left-armer, Broad told Sky Sports, “It is a huge story, back for his first Test at Lord’s since the controversy six years ago, a massive story. But, as a team, it is a dangerous place to get waylaid by that, because we could find ourselves in a lot of trouble.”
The left-arm fast-bowler returned to England’s pitch after a hiatus of six years when he participated in a tour match against Somerset earlier this month. However, his performance exhibited that he is the same lethal bowler who still has the ability decimate an experienced batting line-up.
“Having seen the way Amir bowled at Taunton, we need to get in the right frame of mind, because he can do us some damage,” said Broad. “Let’s start looking at him as a cricketer and a bowler, and how we can negate that.”
England will be without Broad’s regular new-ball partner James Anderson for the Lord’s Test, meaning Jake Ball or Toby Roland-Jones will be given a debut. This situation has placed a lot of pressure on the hosts, who know they lack experienced players.
“I think what will help the team move on is that there is only me, Alastair Cook and Steve Finn who played in the 2010 Lord’s Test. It is a very new team,” added Broad.
Earlier, England Test captain Alastair Cook also said even though Amir tarnished cricket’s reputation, there is no question about his talent.
The left-handed opener, who previously commented that Amir should have been banned for life, said despite all the off-field activities, the Pakistani quickie has enormous talent with the ball.
“There is one thing that is not in doubt when you discuss Amir – he can bowl,” he said. “Taking away all the off-field stuff, he will be a real challenge. He’s an exceptional talent.”
Former England opener Marcus Trescothick, who currently plays for Somerset, also warned Alastair Cook’s men to expect a tough time in the middle facing the left-armer.
“You get a lot of bowlers who swing it quite early, but Amir was swinging it late and as it was coming down the pitch you were almost guessing whether it was an inswinger or whether it was one of the straight ones,” he said after playing against the 24-year-old at Taunton.
“On that performance, he will cause problems for England,” he added.
