England have confirmed that bowler Mark Wood has been rested for the third and final Test against Pakistan in Sharjah due to an “ongoing ankle condition”.
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The Durham paceman has been taken out of the side with a forthcoming hectic schedule in mind as a One Day worldwide series against Pakistan next month is followed by a tour to South Africa later this winter. Chris Jordan, the Sussex allrounder, is in the squad along with Samit Patel giving England the option of a third spinner to go with three seamers in James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Ben Stokes. Misbah, who has become Pakistan’s most successful Test captain after leading Pakistan to victory over England in the second match in Dubai last week, has said he remains undecided about his future.
The Sharjah stadium pitch has been relaid and is likely to help spinners, with leggie Yasir Shah, who took eight wickets in Dubai, and left-armer Zulfiqar Babar, who managed three wickets, playing a key role. Pakistan will tour England next summer for a four-match series after 2010 while it last played Tests in Australia also in early 2010.
The former player also expressed his views on Shoaib Malik’s return, saying he was brilliant against the spinners and performed fantastically. “I think a Test match going to full distance is an outstanding thing for the game”.
“We’ll look at our team and if we sustain the type of cricket we’ve played for five days rather than four-and-a-half we’ve got a really good chance”.
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Out-of-form wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler could be left out, with Jonny Bairstow his ready-made replacement behind the stumps, leaving room for the possible return of James Taylor.
