Riaz also spoke about the talent in Pakistan’s bowling department, saying it would make up for the lack of experience.
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The statistics back up the recent divide between England’s top order and the security provided by those lower down: since May previous year, 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. “I think the fact I had quite a long time to think about it and to chat it over with the selectors and Trevor and Cooky it probably made it a bit easier, rather than being thrown into the role”, Root told reporters.
This time, they have arrived in England with high hopes, and one feels that they will deliver their best performance against the in-form hosts.
“He is a fantastic bowler”.
Sep 02: The three Pakistan players are provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council.
He is hopeful that his modest domestic season could translate into bigger numbers for England.
“I still can’t believe that this is happening”, he said. “From school I got selected for Pakistan Under-15 trials”. He was pretty certain he would be in the squad and I am sure there must have been a huge temptation to have him in the 13, so Jake and Toby could learn something from him leading in to the match.
Wahab backed the 24-year-old to succeed in England.
“Every batsman has a strong point and a weak point and obviously you have to work hard on that”, said Wahab, insistent Pakistan can unsettle Root.
“You want to keep the pressure on him so that he will continue to make mistakes”. “Joe Root is one of their best players and he has to take the responsibility, so that’s why he is at No.3”.
The Lancashire paceman could also have acted as a fast-bowling guru to England’s novice attack.
They picked up two confidence boosting victories against Ireland in a pre-cursor to the one-day series, yet after snatching a tie from the jaws of victory in the opener, they were then blown away by Eoin Morgan’s men.
Amir, who served three months in an English young offenders institute, has only featured in the worldwide game’s shorter formats since his return to Pakistan duty in January.
“That’s the story that I would want to talk about”, he said.
“He has obviously had a tough road since then”. He served his time, he has been in prison, he has been disgraced and he has been stopped from playing for five years. “We all take him as our young brother – he is a part of our family”.
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Veteran England pacer Stuart Broad said his team needs to forget about Pakistan bowler Mohammad Amir’s past and concentrate on his cricketing abilities as he is capable of doing some real damage during their upcoming Test series.
