England have another two-day warm-up game, against the same opposition at the same venues on October 8 and 9, before the first Test. The two other Tests are in Dubai (October 22-26) and Sharjah (November 1-5) Both teams will also play four one-day internationals and three Twenty20 after the Tests.
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Mooen Ali’s performance was perhaps the most disappointing aspect of the opening day, as the Worcestershire all-rounder made just 22 after being asked to open the batting with Cook.
Harris speaking on the Lord’s Podcast where he was joined by cricket journalist and BBC commentator Lizzy Ammon, along with All Out Cricket magazine’s Jo Harman and podcast host, Lords.org’s Will Roe. “In summer at home, we took those in the Ashes, and we will have to do the same here”.
England got a taste of the graft needed in the UAE with a punishing day in the field against Pakistan A to step up their preparations, reports Dean Wilson in Sharjah.
Admitting that England have improved since 2012, Misbah is counting on their lack of experience in the UAE conditions to work in Pakistan’s favour.
Fast bowler Mark Wood urged his England teammates on Tuesday to take their chances during the test series against Pakistan, just as they did during the victorious Ashes series against Australia earlier this year.
Slow left-armer Zafar Gohar was the pick of the Pakistan A attack with 3-72, but there was nothing to suggest that the tourists will be overwhelmed by spin as easily as they were in their 3-0 series defeat in the Middle East in 2012.
Iftikhar was dropped twice at slip, on 11 and then 61, and Wood added: “If we’d taken our half-chances, I think it would have been a brilliant day – but it’s (still) been a good one”.
“We found out it’s pretty hot here and you have to dig in and that patient cricket is going to do the business here”, he said.
With an ageing ball and largely unresponsive pitch, save a little help for spin, England were unable to alter the equation in a match which nonetheless served its goal of further acclimatisation to extreme temperatures. “It’s going to be vital during the series that we get the ball moving off the straight – and we managed to do that today”. “That aggressive style is what we want to play at home [but this] is totally different”.
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“We have two opportunities in the warm-up games, so it’s up to me to pull my finger out and score a few runs”.
