Joe Root and captain Alastair Cook hit comfortable centuries as England reached 314-4 at stumps this morning to take an early advantage in the second Test against Pakistan. Meanwhile, England head selector James Whitaker is ready to clarify the role of his panel next week when he names the squad for the Third Test. Whitaker and fellow selectors Angus Fraser and Mick Newell were criticised for leaving Jimmy Anderson out for the First Test at Lord’s, even though the paceman had declared himself fit to play.
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The tourists’ 42-year-old skipper marked his first-innings hundred, in what was his maiden Test at Lord’s last week, by saluting his team-mates and then performing 10 press-ups.
Captain Alastair Cook compiled a trademark century to lift England to a commanding 210 for two at tea on the first day of the second test against Pakistan in Manchester on Friday.
To do so, Cook knows his side must chiefly overcome the leg-spinner Yasir Shah and at Old Trafford this week they have used the Merlin bowling machine in the nets for a tune-up.
England’s decision means they could give a home debut to leg-spinner Adil Rashid, all of whose three Test appearances to date were away to Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates previous year. Stokes can give a lot of strength to the England side, he’s played some good knocks in the previous two series.
They have recruited former Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq as an expert consultant to help them cope with Yasir.
“You’ve got to use the knowledge of the people you’re lucky enough to have come in and work with you”, said Stokes.
“We didn’t play the greatest game of cricket at Lord’s”, said Cook, after England trained on Thursday.
“It would be silly if the batsmen didn’t try to get anything out of him, pick his brains and ask how the guys who were successful against him played”.
Stokes hinted at a more refined approach by saying: “Old Trafford is known to spin, and obviously that’s going to favour (Shah)”.
It will just be working out a gameplan in terms of how to score, but not giving your wicket away..
“It was their determination and devotion, which was missing since long and now I am delighted to see these missing things in Pakistan team, which guided them to historic first Test victory”.
The pace bowler also took a jab at Buttler, telling him to ‘expect the ball every ball, ‘ in reference to the wicket-keeper having his hands on his hips.
Fielding coach Steve Rixon said the military training had been beneficial.
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“Yasir Shah, I reckon, is the best leg-spinner since Shane Warne”, Stokes told British media on Wednesday.
