England’s Alastair Cook, centre, and Alex Hales, left, run between the wickets after scoring off the bowling of Pakistan’s Mohammad Amir, right, during day one of the 3rd cricket Test Match at Edgbaston, Birmingham England Wednesday Aug. 3, 2016.
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The first Test saw an inspiring century from captain Misbah-ul-Haq but Pakistan’s performance in the next game betrayed its batting woes. “There are credible losses, and there are losses when you lie down and are steamrollered…”
Bowling a tight line and length, Khan dismissed two of England’s star batsmen: Andrew Hales and the hosts’ hero in the 2nd Test, Joe Root.
England, though, will be encouraged by the superb form of Chris Woakes, who has taken 26 wickets and scored 221 runs in four Tests this season. We’ve made the decision, I think it really was a 50/50 call and Jake is very unlucky but it gives Steven a great opportunity to show the bowler we know he can [be].
“So (I’ll) try and tell him to relax and play”.
Alastair Cook, England’s Test captain, suggested on Tuesday that Stokes’ latest injury “was in some way related to his previous one” – perhaps indicating that he might have required more time to retain peak physical condition before returning to worldwide cricket – and stated that England should “treat him with care and let’s get him back 100 percent before we start talking of him playing again”.
“He’s going to be a danger, there’s no doubt about that, and he will have learned from his experience up at Old Trafford, that’s what happens when you have a tough game”.
“We’ve had discussions. We’ve given that position some serious thought”, said Arthur.
While Cook was happy to name his XI a day before the toss, his opposite number, Misbah-ul-Haq, opted to keep Pakistan’s plans under wraps as the tourists mull over a change at the top of the order due to Shan Masood’s apparent vulnerability outside off stump.
But Sohail, who came into this match with a solitary Test wicket at the unflattering average of 245, broke through in 10 over.
He bounced back in the Old Trafford win although he was off his usual pace and admitted he was feeling his way back to form. But Root’s innings lasted just six balls, coming to an end after a thick outside edge to Mohammad Hafeez at first slip handed Sohail his second wicket of the morning.
The 27-year-old will therefore replace injured all-rounder Ben Stokes, at a venue where he performed well in last summer’s Ashes success.
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Warwickshire favourite Woakes, now looking forward to a first Test appearance on his Edgbaston home ground, has been a revelation in England’s four home Tests this term.
