While Pakistan and England were neck and neck in the Test series that couldn’t be farther from the truth in the ODI series.
Advertisement
But all-rounder Ali, speaking in Cardiff yesterday ahead of England’s fifth and final one-day global against Pakistan in the Welsh capital today, said: “If selected, I’ll definitely go”.
Pakistan take on England in the fifth one-day worldwide at Cardiff on Sunday, ARY News reported.
So where the top performers for both England and Pakistan in this series?
The paltry show will affect the ODI ratings of the ninth-ranked side, who are now in danger of losing a chance to qualify automatically for the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup.
England piled up 3-444 in the third match in Nottingham, a world record one-day worldwide total.
He fell short of a second century in the series, but Pakistan had enough leeway and kept their nerve for an overdue win with 10 balls to spare.
While a World Cup without 1992 champions Pakistan remains unlikely, it is by no means unthinkable.
England did break the partnership eventually and a couple of quick wickets ensured a nervy ending was in store for Pakistan, but the hosts’ hopes of just a second ODI whitewash in a series of five or more matches were to be denied.
“Mindset, a little bit more aggression, a bit more positive cricket, intent. Moving forward, we’ve got young players who can change things around but it will take time”.
Pakistan’s head coach, Mickey Arthur has expressed his frustration at the fitness of Irfan and the way he limped off during the fourth ODI.
“When Mooresy left and Farby took over, that’s the time they thought, “we’ve got not nothing to lose, we just need to express ourselves on the field”.
Mahmood’s last appearance for the London-based county was a domestic Twenty20 against Kent at The Oval in July where opening batsman Roy struck 120 in a 37-run win. The limited-over game will be played on September 7.
But they demonstrated England’s strength in depth to help edge this much tighter contest following the Nottingham stroll.
The Supersub experiment, which made Vikram Solanki a little piece of cricket history in 2005 when he was the first used, came and went from one-day internationals after less than a year, but Jonny Bairstow’s one-day career is reviving the memories. “Jonny was outstanding but he’s finding it hard to get into a winning side, which is a good problem for us”.
Bairstow added: “I do not think you set world records like we did (on Tuesday) if you are not part of a strong side and squad”.
Advertisement
Resolute half-centuries by Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow led England to a four-wicket victory against Pakistan and a 4-0 lead in the five-match one-day worldwide series on Thursday. Irfan suffered from cramps in his left calf muscle and couldn’t bowl after five overs in the match.
