“If we show the same consistency we showed at Lord’s this can be a good match for us”, he said.
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Shah, who in the series opener took a match-winning 10 for 141 – the best figures by a Pakistan bowler in a Lord’s Test – was hit on the shoulder batting in the nets on Wednesday.
“One thing he does very well is he doesn’t bowl many bad balls, which is the skill of a great spinner”, said Cook.
After Root fell into Pakistan’s short ball trap in the second-innings at Lord’s when he pulled Rahat to deep square-leg, England’s No. 3 was again faced with two men back on the legside with Wahab bowling.
Stokes, like England’s all-time leading wicket-taker James Anderson, was absent at headquarters and will be back this week – after their recovery from respective injuries.
Given Chris Woakes now looks to be in form – and was just about the only bowler to do anything in the first Test for England he will be another key to the puzzle.
It’s time for England to avenge their defeat against Pakistan in the second Test!
There, England had to sit and suffer in the dressing room while Misbah-ul-Haq orchestrated Pakistan’s memorable salute and press-up celebrations – homage to their bonding experience at a pre-tour army boot camp near Karachi.
That left Shah with 86 wickets in a mere 13 Tests at an average of 23, compared to Warne’s mammoth 708 in 145 Tests at just over 25 apiece in a career that ended in 2007.
“Good to see you finally scoring at KP’s run rate”. So we might have to change where you have to think “I can do this but no, I can’t do that”, if it’s spinning and bouncing.
Rixon said what mattered more than how Misbah chose to mark a century was the unity he had forged within the squad.
“They (England) can try to attack Yasir, it’s up to them what they want to do”, said Misbah.
Spinner Adil Rashid remains in the squad and a decision will be made on Friday if he will replace Moeen Ali or if England will go with two spinners in Manchester.
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“I thought we maybe played across the ball at Lord’s but today we played a lot straighter and gave ourselves a better chance with less risk”. None of us got a hundred and we didn’t have those 100 partnerships that we talked about. It’s a belting first day wicket but there were signs it might wear and tear so first innings runs are going to be important.
