England took a 2-1 lead with one Test to play in the series as their bowlers ripped through Pakistan to seal a 141-run victory on day five at Edgbaston.
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It also meant England had become the first team in 114 years of Test cricket at Edgbaston to win after conceding a lead of more than 100 runs batting first.
Rashid, who was included in an unchanged 13-man squad for the fourth Test, is yet to don England’s white flannels in home game.
Bayliss is mindful of the effectiveness of spin at The Oval, and remembers Nathan Lyon taking four wickets there in Australia’s consolation Ashes triumph a year ago.
“Very”, Bayliss said when asked how tempted he was by the thought of Rashid playing. “Having a leg-spinner will help when the wicket is turning and should allow us to knock over the tail a bit more easily”.
“Lyon bowled very well there, got some spin and bounce”.
On the other hand Pakistan will also likely to undergo two changes; Sami Aslam may be given chance in place of opener Shan Masood whereas Wahab Riaz might be replaced with Imran Khan.
“At some stage, he will get an opportunity”.
At tea on the final day, Pakistan were 148 for seven after losing four wickets for just one run in 23 balls.
Conventional or reverse swing where a ball deviates late in flight is one of the most hard types of bowling to face, particularly if the bowler is capable, as Anderson is, of deliveries in excess of 80mph.
Pakistan’s chase got off to a stuttering start as Mohammad Hafeez (two) fell cheaply for the second time in the match before first-innings stars Aslam and Azhar Ali repaired the damage with a stand of 73.
His brilliant display of reverse swing ignited England’s famous victory and took him back to the top of the world bowling rankings. “I thought that might come in a couple of years’ time”.
Of more interest to the captain is that his team showed him a new toughness to prevail by 141 runs in the third Investec Test, despite appearing washed up after the first two days.
“If we do win there, I wouldn’t say we are anywhere near our potential”.
The Australian has set gaining the No.1 Test ranking as his long-term goal ever since taking on the England job in June of previous year. “He stepped it up again at Edgbaston”.
A short while later, James Anderson (2-31) tempted Younis Khan (4) into nicking a ball to the keeper in the 38th over, reducing England to 92 for three.
England did not take a wicket before lunch: they were presented with it. “They’ve been brilliant in behaviour, both on and off the field, and they’ve been a credit to Pakistan”.
Anderson escaped any punishment from match referee Richie Richardson, the former West Indies captain, and Bayliss was happy with the way Anderson dealt with the fall-out. If we are going to the sub-continent, he’s the guy we will probably give the first chance to.
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“He’s been around enough now to know when he has maybe transgressed a little too far, and to pull his head in pretty quick”.
