Former England star Kevin Pietersen revealed his loyalty to his adopted nation saw him turn down a job as Pakistan’s batting consultant.
Advertisement
Not since 2005, when Warne played his last Ashes series here, have we been able to see a world-class legspinner in England – let alone on terrestrial.
England coach Trevor Bayliss has already hinted at a recall for Buttler, admitting he hopes the Lancashire star can translate his white-ball form to the Test match forum. Once the first test is out of the way, the media will move on.
The all-rounder has returned for Durham only as a batsman, though, so England may well opt for caution on this occasion.
At least he is expected to visit Lord’s today or tomorrow and can pass on tips to uncapped duo Jake Ball, 25, of Nottinghamshire and Middlesex’s Toby Roland-Jones, 28.
While Wahab, who went a long way in cementing his Test spot with a fiery spell of reverse swing on the second afternoon against Sussex, is correct to pinpoint the uncertainty around the No. 4 and 5 positions heading into the series, England’s lower middle-order has been prolific of late. He is in your face and it is very hard to get on top of him. But you sit in the dressing room and you hear players say, ‘Hello, what was that all about?’ It has put innocent players under suspicion.
“I don’t think wickets should seam around – I just think they have got to bounce”.
“I think the English team are all risky, you can not name any of the batsmen or the bowlers specifically but we know how capable they are with the ball and the bat”, he said. That’s now translating into my cricket.
As for Stokes, Cook said: “Quite rightly when he comes back and he is fully fit he comes into our side”.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s pace attack is likely to feature returning Mohammad Amir, alongside left-arm pacer Wahab Riaz and leg spinner Yasir Shah.
The build-up around Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir’s return to Test cricket for the first time since the 2010 spot-fixing episode is getting mixed reactions, and the former England offspinner Graeme Swann joined the unhappy brigade.
The former England spinner has lashed out at both the paceman and global cricket’s decision-makers in the build-up to the game, saying Amir should never have been allowed to walk through the famous Long Room again after his actions in 2010.
But Azhar told Cricinfo after a warm-up game against Somerset: “He’s played a lot of cricket since his comeback, so things have settled down a lot”.
The match takes place a little less than six years after Amir bowled no balls to order at the same venue against the same opponents, in a game which featured a Swann five-wicket hall.
“We will support him and we really want him to do well”. “Everyone should look forward”. He is a star bowler because he has the ability to change angles, over and around the wicket.
Advertisement
He added: “I would love to play in English conditions”.
