YES- Tom Brandreth
LATER THIS month the England cricket team play an enigmatic Pakistani side in what will be their first Test series since acquiring the enviable status of the world’s best Test playing nation.
Following back-to-back home series wins last summer against Sri Lanka and the former number one side India, Andrew Strauss’ men will go into the series confident they can secure their third straight series victory over a sub-continent side. Pakistan, not at the peak of their powers and surrounded by controversy, are yet to replace their two world class bowlers Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Amir, who are both serving bans for spot-fixing.
Their batting line-up, although talented, has often demonstrated a lack of application – something that will need to be addressed if they are to beat their disciplined visitors.
Conversely, England look strong in all departments. With the bat, Alistair Cook and Ian Bell are in the form of their lives and in Jonathan Trott, England have the ICC World Player of 2011. There is also healthy competition amongst the bowlers with Graham Onions and Steven Finn pushing for places in an attack that boasts three out of the four best bowlers in the world. Add this to the fact that England are one of the most polished fielding outfits, and the signs are looking good.
NO- Will Barnes
DESPITE THE fact that England have recently become the number one test cricket side in the world, I would not be surprised if they do not win the upcoming test series against Pakistan in the UAE.
England’s past performances on the subcontinent hardly reflect well on the world’s foremost test side. They have not defeated India and Sri Lanka in their own backyard since the turn of the century, whilst they last were victorious over Pakistan away from home more than ten years ago. Admittedly, they have defeated Bangladesh away twice in the last decade, but then, it is Bangladesh.
Furthermore, Pakistan are no longer the side who were so easily brushed aside by England in 2010. They were undefeated in tests in 2011, overcoming Bangladesh and Zimbabwe away from home as well as being victorious over Sri Lanka in the UAE. The tests they are to play against England are to take place here and this is to Pakistan’s advantage. The wickets in UAE are slow and batsmen friendly, very much like those in Pakistan.
Therefore, despite the fact that England have a long line of capable batsmen, the wickets suit Pakistan’s attack, who demonstrated last year that they had enough variety and firepower to be victorious.