“Everyone has their opinion but now he is back everyone is supporting him and the whole team is there”. He has changed that, but I still think he’s got some work to do.
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However, the 25-year-old dismissed the suggestions and expects the likes of Jonny Bairstow and Vince to step up. We’re not a very experienced attack, but we all have the ability to win a Test match.
And having been in the United Kingdom since May to play for Essex in England’s domestic Twenty20 competition, the hostile quick will look to impart some of his local knowledge on the younger bowlers. The 26-year-old last played for England at this level a year ago against Australia at Lord’s.
Pakistan have one more three-day game, against Sussex at Hove starting on Friday, before the first Test.
Broad’s primary concern, of course, is with the ball – and he admits the Lord’s pitch, which has offered so little to the seamers of late, is a headache.
He is verbal. He lets you know he is bowling at you.
“I faced him in the Pakistan Super League in Dubai earlier this year”. Waqar Younis couldn’t use him properly, Shahid Afridi saw him as a threat (to his right to be the captain) but if any player can win a match for Pakistan in England this time, it’s this bloke from Karachi.
At Edgbaston, they watched on as Jason Roy and Alex Hales dismantled their bowling attack to the tune of an unbeaten first-wicket partnership of 256 in a ten-wicket humbling inside 35 overs. “Once he has done his punishment then it is a new life for him and he is ready to have a go again”.
Kevin Pietersen says his loyalty to England led him to reject an approach to become Pakistan’s batting consultant.
Although preparation matches such as these against makeshift county XIs aren’t going to have any bearing on the Test matches, it is a good sign for the series that Pakistan have already faired considerably better than their Sri Lankan counterparts earlier in the year.
He added: “I stick by my initial reaction but if he’s making a comeback, all the best to him”. They lack experience at the top of the order and every time we played Pakistan they hated facing the Duke ball.
“I have said it before, but everybody is supportive of Mohammad Amir, no one is reluctant”.
Broad senses that will ease the tension, and will prevent England spending time and energy they can ill afford on factors which could make them vulnerable to a resurgent Amir.
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Either way, for all the enhanced feel-good self-belief of consecutive series victories away to South Africa and at home to Sri Lanka, England have questions to answer against capable opponents.
