The brilliant Pakistan left-armer was wicketless in his first Test spell back at the scene of the 2010 spot-fixing crime which earned him a prison sentence and five-year global ban from all cricket.
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Talking to media at Lord’s on Wednesday, Pakistan Captain Misbah-ul-Haq expressed hope that Muhammad Amir could deal with all the emotion and hype surrounding his return to Test cricket.
“He does not get a wicket every time he bowls a ball, so we have to be careful not to build him up in our own minds – but we know how skilful he is”.
The 25-year-old, who was brought in to replace injured James Anderson, looked threatening early on, and was duly rewarded in his second spell when he trapped Azhar Ali lbw to pick up his first worldwide wicket.
The 42-year-old’s achievement was all the more impressive as this was also his first Test at the “home of cricket”.
Misbah was playing his first test in England and rode to his side’s rescue, coming to the crease with Pakistan on 77 for three.
As well as Amir, Pakistan is also set to hand a return to spinner Yassir Shah in what will be his first worldwide outing since serving a three-month doping ban.
“It’s a pitch that if you get in you can score runs and we’ve got batters who can score at a good rate”.
“I think I’m quite a calm character, and I took that advice into the day and hopefully I did that and proved to people that I can play at Test level”.
The first Test between England and Pakistan takes place a little less than six years after Amir bowled no balls to order at the same venue against the same opponents.
But the Pakistan opener fumbled the straight-forward opportunity to deny Amir’s chance to claim his first Test wicket in almost six years. Woakes and Bairstow combined again to have Mohammad Hafeez (40) caught off a skyer. But this time, thanks to a tight “umpire’s call” verdict showing the ball clipping leg stump, technology worked in Ball’s favour.
“I promised the army guys I would do the push-ups if I got a century”, said Misbah. Alex Hales, caught at third slip by Azahr Ali, walked back for just six but Cook and Root launched a counter-attack to deny the Pakistan any further success in the opening session. Chris Woakes struck early on Day 2 to remove Shafiq on 73 off 130 balls.
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England’s hopes were raised, but not for long – until Woakes had a late say too, doubling his tally with the second new ball and nearly levelling the day’s exchanges.
