England will be looking to kick-start the Joe Root era with a series victory over Pakistan, but there are some seriously talented cricketers in their way.
The Test summer begins at Lord’s on Thursday, with Root’s men desperate to begin atoning for their woeful winter. Another away Ashes debacle was followed by a first series defeat in New Zealand since 1984.
Now Pakistan are in town, intent on continuing England’s wait for a Test victory. And these three players could hold the key…
Mohammad Amir
This world class left-armer would walk into any Test side – and certainly England’s. Although he is destined to forever be remembered as the youngster with the world at his feet who was given a five-year ban for his role in the spot fixing scandal during Pakistan’s 2010 tour of England, Amir has worked his way back to the top of the game and is considered one of the great pace stars of the world – as always seemed his destiny before his suspension.
As long as a troublesome knee injury doesn’t hamper his form, Amir will test every single England batsman – from under-pressure opener Mark Stoneman to the returning Jos Buttler. He swings the ball both ways, at pace, and constantly maintains pressure. He particularly enjoys English conditions and has been helped by his spell playing county cricket for Essex last year.
Amir spent time as a teammate of Alastair Cook in Chelmsford, but will now be intent on putting another nail in the coffin of England’s long-serving opener. He will have seen how his fellow left-armer Trent Boult made England’s most recent Test series the worst, statistically, of all Cook has played by dismissing him in all four innings in New Zealand.
With exactly 100 Test wickets to his name, at a strike rate of almost 32, Amir will be the bowler Cook, Stoneman and captain Root fear in particular, as they seek to build the top-order partnerships England have so desperately been lacking.
If conditions suit, Amir has the ability to bring about one of the hosts’ all-too-familiar collapses. He will be desperate to inspire one with his banana swing action.
A feeling does linger, however, that he is yet to produce his best form in Test matches. And England will be buoyed by his below-par return of an average touching 43 on Pakistan’s last tour here.
Rahat Ali
The main cause for concern for England when it comes to trying to defeat Pakistan in this two-match series – the second Test begins on 1 June at Headingley – will be the visitors’ bowling attack. Their batsmen continue to be far too inconsistent, and also prone to the kind of collapse England are becoming known for. It means their bowlers are the ones who must inflict damage on the Three Lions.
Given they appear likely to break with what is in the modern game considered the norm, and instead have five bowlers in their side, it will be hugely important for them to deliver quick wickets.
Amir will perform in tandem with a fellow left-armer Rahat Ali. Although his form in the historic Test with Ireland, and also the warm-up encounter with Leicestershire, has done little to inspire, Ali has the attributes to target those in the England line-up who are lacking in confidence.
Stoneman and Cook will be in his sights early on. Their lack of footwork has often been their undoing – particularly Cook – and Ali’s side-on action and searing pace will concern home support. He is capable of regularly hitting upwards of 85mph and has an impressive record of 58 wickets in 21 Tests.
Azhar Ali
Opener Azhar Ali will be under pressure from the off given Pakistan will field five specialist bowlers at Lord’s. The former skipper is the one man who the tourists can usually rely on to deliver runs, and he has form against England as the leading run-maker in the 2012 series played in UAE, averaging more than 50.
With a young side around him, the former captain is expected to lead from the front. More so than ever before, with this Pakistan’s first trip to England without their world class duo Misbah Ul-Haq and Younis Khan, now retired.
Ali is an opener of more traditional Test values. More Alastair Cook than David Warner, Ali has a sound temperament – perfect for dealing with the weight of expectation he now finds himself under to provide Pakistan with a platform for victories – and plays with patience.
His first thought is usually to get behind the line of the ball and wait for the bad deliveries – and he’ll need to use all of that technique and his composure to see off the likes of James Anderson and Stuart Broad this summer.
Averages more than 45 in Test cricket from his 63 matches and showed some form at Grace Road with a top score of 73 as Pakistan signed off their warm-up fixtures with a draw.
