Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur is desperate to see a greater return from his top-order batsmen in the third Test against England at Edgbaston starting on Wednesday. England levelled the four-match series at 1-1 with a crushing 330-run win in the second Test at Old Trafford — a margin of victory that was testimony to the tourists’ batting woes.
It was all a far cry from Pakistan’s 75-run win in the first Test at Lord’s, which featured an inspiring century from captain Misbah-ul-Haq. Poor starts have been a problem for Pakistan in this series.
But Mohammad Hafeez and Shan Masood are not the first Pakistan opening pair to struggle in English conditions.
Indeed you have to go back to 1996 for the last time a Pakistan first-wicket duo put on a 50 stand in a Test against England in England. “I was really disappointed with our performance at Old Trafford — really disappointed,” said Arthur.
Masood has become something of a ‘bunny’ for James Anderson, England’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker. He has fallen six times for just 15 runs in 57 balls to Lancashire paceman Anderson dating back to last year in the UAE.
Pakistan could promote number three Azhar Ali to open and bring Sami Aslam, yet to feature this series, into the side in place of Masood.
England, however, also look vulnerable at the top of the order if Pakistan can find a way past home captain Alastair Cook and Joe Root, who both made hundreds at Old Trafford.
James Vince and Gary Ballance are both in need of runs to cement their respective places and Arthur said: “We feel if we can get into them with the new ball, we’ve got a real good chance.
“Clearly Cook and Root are the beacon of England batting at the moment.” Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah took 10 wickets at Lord’s but only managed one at Old Trafford.
However, Edgbaston has a reputation as a spin-friendly surface and Shah, still very much in the infancy of his Test career, will look to get back to his best this week.
England must decide whether to play two spinners, with leg-break bowler Adil Rashid waiting in the wings for a home debut, most likely in support of off-spinner Moeen Ali.
Meanwhile, Steven Finn has been called-up to replace the injured Ben Stokes. But the superb form of fellow pace bowling all-rounder Chris Woakes has helped England cope with Stokes’s repeated absences this season.
Published 02 August 2016, 19:39 IST