The statistics back up the recent divide between England’s top order and the security provided by those lower down: since May a year ago, their average for positions 1-5 is sixth in Test cricket (Pakistan’s batsmen average 14 runs more per wicket, albeit in far fewer Tests, and all of them in Asia) but for positions 6-11, England are top of the pile.
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“If you make a mistake it doesn’t mean that you are out of (excluded from) this world”. “Club cricket there (in Swabi) is very good – Junaid Khan (another of Pakistan’s left-arm pace bowlers, who has played 22 Tests) is from Swabi”.
“You can not stop what people say and what people think”, he said.
“I’ve heard all the arguments that Amir, like all criminals, should be reintegrated after serving his time (he was banned from cricket for five years and served half of a six-month sentence in a young offenders’ institution)”.
“Everyone has their opinion but now he is back everyone is supporting him and the whole team is there”.
The trio were also banned from competing in cricket by the ICC, with Amir getting a five-year ban, Asif a seven-year ban and Butt a ten-year ban. I’m not saying it should not have been a tough road but he has served his time and been given an opportunity to play for Pakistan again. That is all we are thinking.
“Then they calmed down and now they are trying to get along with him”. “We know things will come and go but you hear it in one ear and you leave it with the other and you just concentrate on your cricket”.
His ban expired a year ago and is now in making preparations in for the Pakistan domestic season.
“What has happened before has gone”, he said.
Broad’s sole Test century, in a 10-year global career, came in the match which will inevitably be remembered forever not for his 169 in a triple-century stand with Jonathan Trott.
Th left-arm pacer will return to the scene of his crime next week, nearly six years after he deliberately bowled no balls at the same venue during a Test in 2010. With a different coach and his favourite captain returning, Sarfraz might outperform many in the side. They lack experience at the top of the order and every time we played Pakistan they hated facing the Duke ball. “We always talk, not as an ego thing, but to try to get one over the opening batsman”.
Asif, whose ban expired last year and is now in making preparations for the Pakistan domestic season, hopes to make a comeback in the national squad for Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand and Australia scheduled to be played later this year.
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But they opted against including one-day wicketkeeper Jos Buttler in the Test squad and playing all-rounder Ben Stokes, not fit for bowling following a knee injury, as a specialist batsman. We are the most rude when it comes to it. You are stepping into the unknown, but that can give you a bit extra.
