Pak Vs Eng ---> 1st Test - Dubai

[Mr.Khan]

Pakistan Vs England

1st Test - Dubai

[Mr.Khan]

Re: Pak Vs Eng ---> 1st Test - Dubai

Teams:

England (From): Andrew Strauss(c), Ian Bell, Alastair Cook, Ravi Bopara, James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Steve Davies, Steven Finn, Eoin Morgan, Monty Panesar, Kevin Pietersen, Graham Onions, Matt Prior(w), Graeme Swann, Chris Tremlett, Jonathan Trott

Pakistan (From): Misbah-ul-Haq(c), Abdur Rehman, Aizaz Cheema, Adnan Akmal(w), Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Imran Farhat, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Talha, Mohammad Hafeez, Saeed Ajmal, Taufeeq Umar, Umar Gul, Umar Akmal, Younis Khan, Wahab Riaz

[Mr.Khan]

Re: Pak Vs Eng ---> 1st Test - Dubai

Quotes:

There is history between the sides but it's important we as players don't get caught up in that. We just have to focus on what we do without taking away our aggressive approach - Stuart Broad

They are the top side in the world so we just can't rely on the fact that we know the conditions well. We still have to play good cricket to beat them - Misbah ul Haq

[Mr.Khan]

Re: Pak Vs Eng ---> 1st Test - Dubai

The previous time Pakistan and England met was a series that shook the entire cricketing fraternity. The spot-fixing scandal broke out and Pakistan lost some of their most promising players of recent times. The noise of the scandal is yet to die down and these thoughts will definitely be at the back of the players' minds when they step out.

The series is more interesting because both England and Pakistan have been the top teams of 2011. This will be England's first Test series after their highly successful campaign against India at home that saw them rise to the top of the ICC Test rankings. Pakistan, under Misbah-ul-Haq, have seen some steady improvement and look a settled combination, that in itself is considered a huge achievement for the troubled but highly talented team.

[Mr.Khan]

Re: Pak Vs Eng ---> 1st Test - Dubai

England:

England are the team to beat, especially after the Ashes win and the whitewash of the Indians. Andrew Strauss and Andy Flower have forged an enviable leadership combination. The side boasts of some of the best players in the world right now. The batting has a good mixture of attacking ones and defensive ones. Andrew Strauss has done exceptionally well as a captain but his batting has come down a few notches. The skipper will be the first one to know that and he will be eager to set that record straight. The test against spin could be the biggest for the likes of Jonathan Trott and Eoin Morgan. These two are still new to the dry conditions that mirror those in the sub-continent but the former in particular has been a prolific scorer since his debut. It remains to be seen if they can successfully adapt to the foreign conditions.

Like their counterparts, England have an embarrassment of riches in the pace department. The absence of Tim Bresnan will not affect them too much. Stuart Broad suffered an injury scare leading up to the match and if he is absent too, then England will miss the two all-rounders more for their useful batting down the order. James Anderson, Chris Tremlett, Steve Finn and Graham Onions still make a formidable attack. Andrew Strauss will have to manage his pacers wisely. Long spells in the sapping heat could add to more injuries. England are likely to go ahead with just the lone spinner in Graeme Swann even though Monty Panesar impressed in the tour games.

They will be desperate to do justice to their tag of No 1 and prove that they can win in all conditions.

[Mr.Khan]

Re: Pak Vs Eng ---> 1st Test - Dubai


Pakistan:

Misbah ul Haq has exceeded expectations after taking over the captaincy. He took over at a time with a lot of questions being asked about the team and so far they have answered with positive results on the field. The unit looks a steady one and each member of the side has earned his spot through consistent performances. It looks to be one with an ideal mixture of youth and experience too. Mohammad Hafeez had a good time with both bat and ball last year. His batting though will undergo a severe test against the skillful English pacers. His big knocks came against relatively weaker sides in 2011 and this os an opportunity for him to climb to the next level. Taufeeq Umar, Younis Khan and Misbah lend a lot of solidity and experience to the batting and have been in good touch. The emergence of Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq, two youngsters with a lot potential, has been one of the positives. Like it is for Hafeez, these two too will face an entirely different challenge when they come up against arguably the most complete and lethal bowling attack in world cricket today.

Pakistan have been blessed in the bowling department. If there was one team that could recover from the loss of the likes of Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif, it had to be Pakistan. Umar Gul has taken over the role of the leader of the attack with great enthusiasm and remains one of the best exponents of reverse swing, something that could prove to be crucial in the dry conditions of the Middle East. They still are spoilt for choice with Aizaz Cheema, Junaid Khan and Wahab Riaz fighting for one spot. Their strength lies in the spin department. Saeed Ajmal has come a long way as an off spinner and his battle with Graeme Swann for the title of the best off-spinner in the world adds an interesting sub-plot to the contest. Abdur Rehman has been an ideal foil for Ajmal but the left-armer is more than capable of running through sides on favourable tracks. England will do well not to ignore him as all the pre-series talk has centered around Ajmal.

Misbah and Pakistan have been criticized for being a tad too defensive while batting. They will need to score big and fast to put pressure on their formidable opponents.

[Mr.Khan]

Re: Pak Vs Eng ---> 1st Test - Dubai

England won the toss, and elected to bat first

[Mr.Khan]

Re: Pak Vs Eng ---> 1st Test - Dubai

Strauss and Alastair Cook are at the crease. Strauss is on strike. Umar Gul will open the attack

Three slips and a gully in place as Gul runs in.

[Mr.Khan]

Re: Pak Vs Eng ---> 1st Test - Dubai

0.6 Umar Gul to Strauss, no run, full ball and it holds its line outside off, Strauss does not play at it, not much swing on offer for Gul

0.5 Umar Gul to Strauss, no run, good length ball and keeping it around the off stump channel, Strauss lets it go

0.4 Umar Gul to Alastair Cook, 1 run, slightly fuller on the off stump, Cook taps it to mid wicket for a quick single

0.3 Umar Gul to Alastair Cook, no run, hint of swing first up, length ball and it snakes back in just outside off, Cook watches it and shoulders arms

0.2 Umar Gul to Strauss, 1 run, good length ball and straight on middle, Strauss nudges it past short leg and he gets off the mark

0.1 Umar Gul to Strauss, no run, good carry for Gul, back of a length delivery angled across outside off, it climbs up on Strauss who watches it and lifts his bat to leave it

[Mr.Khan]

Re: Pak Vs Eng ---> 1st Test - Dubai

Eng 2/0

[Mr.Khan]

Re: Pak Vs Eng ---> 1st Test - Dubai

Aizaz Cheema, right-arm fast medium, comes into the attack

Three slips and a gully in place for Cheema as well.

[Mr.Khan]

Re: Pak Vs Eng ---> 1st Test - Dubai

1.6 Aizaz Cheema to Strauss, no run, good length ball and it skids through on middle and leg, Strauss defends it

1.5 Aizaz Cheema to Strauss, 2 runs, shortish ball but angled away wide outside off, Strauss slashes at it but the ball hits the toe-end of the bat, rolls to sweeper cover without any timing for a couple

1.4 Aizaz Cheema to Strauss, no run, good ball that from Cheema, short of a good length ball just outside off and it darts away, Strauss pushes at it uncertainly and the ball scoots past the edge

1.3 Aizaz Cheema to Strauss, no run, back of a length delivery around the off stump line, Strauss defends it back to the bowler

1.2 Aizaz Cheema to Alastair Cook, 1 run, that nearly squared up Cook, good length ball that is slanted across just outside off, Cook lunges forward and looks to work it to square leg but gets a leading edge that rolls to deepish point

1.1 Aizaz Cheema to Alastair Cook, no run, good start for Cheema, pitched up delivery on off stump, Cook squeezes it back to the bowler

[Mr.Khan]

Re: Pak Vs Eng ---> 1st Test - Dubai

Eng 5/0

[Mr.Khan]

Re: Pak Vs Eng ---> 1st Test - Dubai

2.6 Umar Gul to Alastair Cook, no run, short of length ball close to the off stump, Cook watches it carefully and leaves it

2.5 Umar Gul to Alastair Cook, no run, goodish length ball and it is angled across straight outside off, Cook lets it go easily

2.4 Umar Gul to Alastair Cook, no run, fuller length ball on middle and off, Cook plunges forward and defends it back to the bowler

2.3 Umar Gul to Alastair Cook, no run, good length ball on off stump, Cook gets forward and dabs it to cover point

2.2 Umar Gul to Alastair Cook, no run, back of a length ball and in the zone outside off, Cook shoulders arms

2.1 Umar Gul to Alastair Cook, no run, back of a length delivery and it veers away wide outside off, Cook does not play at it and Adnan dives to his left to stop it

[Mr.Khan]

Re: Pak Vs Eng ---> 1st Test - Dubai

Eng 5/0 in 3 overs