England's Test summer continues as Old Trafford stages the first of a three-match series against Pakistan, starting on Wednesday - Richard Mann previews the action.
Recommended bets
2pts Asad Shafiq top Pakistan series batsman at 6/1
2pts Ollie Pope top England series batsman at 7/1
2pts Mohammad Abbas top Pakistan series bowler at 11/4
2pts Asad Shafiq to make a first-innings fifty in the first Test at 5/2
2pts Ollie Pope to make a first-innings fifty in the First Test at 7/4
An English Test summer like no other continues on Wednesday as England kick off a three-match series with Pakistan at Old Trafford.
Like the West Indies before them, Pakistan deserve huge credit for opting to tour England at present but this might not be the stroll in the park for the hosts that many expect and should the glorious weather that is predicted this week continue for a little longer yet, the visitors could be very competitive.
Pakistan’s biggest hopes will centre around star batsman Babar Azam; a brilliant white-ball performer who has started to enjoy similar levels of success in the longer form of the game over the last 18 months.
In fact, since the start of 2018 Azam has amassed 759 runs at an average 75.9 as his silky off-side game has been accompanied with a willingness to battle through tough periods and occupy the crease for a long time.
Make no mistake, Azam’s game is built on flair, gorgeous timing and rich natural talent, but he toughed it out in tricky South African batting conditions in 2018/2019 before bossing an exceptional Australian pace attack Down Under last winter.
He looks the real deal and like many of his Pakistan batting colleagues, will find things much easier if clear blue skies continue to be seen for the duration of the series.
With all eyes rightly on Azam as he tries to prove he deserves to be put in the same bracket as Virat Kohli, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson, England’s fine pace attack are sure to provide a stern examination with the Dukes ball and at 5/2 for top Pakistan series batsman honours, I’m inclined to look elsewhere.
There are some slight reservations about whether Azam’s off-side game might get him into trouble against the moving ball on these shores – think James Vince, just a sexier version who is looking for more than a one-night stand – but on top of that, Pakistan do possess a number of other fine players who could enjoy a fruitful series.
Azhar Ali is one and the visiting captain already has a Test match hundred in England to his name for all he struggled against the ball moving back into him the last time he visited these shoes. Nevertheless, he is the type of obdurate operator who can go very big once set, while Shan Masood is an opening batsman I have a lot of time for.
Time is probably a good word to describe Masood given he has seemingly taken an age to nail down his position in the Pakistan Test side having always promised to be a long-term solution at the top of the order.
It’s the amount of time Masood has when playing pace that first struck me when watching him bat in South Africa in the aforementioned tour and while he has often let himself down by making starts without converting enough of those into three figures, it might be significant that he struck a pair of hundreds (135 and 100) in his last two Test innings – against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
James Anderson’s presence in the home attack will be another big challenge for him to overcome, though, and as such, I can’t resist having old friend Asad Shafiq on side instead.
Shafiq is a vastly-experienced campaigner who was part Pakistan’s world number one side that played so well here in 2016, proving one of Misbah-ul-Haq’s most trusted and reliable lieutenants as he continued to build an impressive record at number six.
Shafiq has scored runs all around the world, if not always as heavily as he might have, and he averages just a touch over 40 in England having made two hundreds here in 12 matches.
One of the most impressive aspects of Shafiq’s game on his previous visits to England has been his ability to play late, an absolute must against the swinging ball, and should Azam or Masood fail to adapt their own games to these conditions, the veteran might well steal the limelight.
Number five could prove the ideal fit for him, too, with that little bit of protection from the new ball paring of Anderson and Stuart Broad always welcome.
I’m happy to take a chance on him for top Pakistan series batsman honours at 6/1, while just as he did in 2016 and 2018, I’ll take him to kick off his tour of England with a First Test, first-innings fifty at 5/2 given the weather forecast offers hope that conditions will favour the batsmen all week.
If number five proves to be a good slot for Shafiq, the same might apply to Ollie Pope who could find himself batting in the same position as the one in which he prospered against the West Indies - should England once again opt for five frontline bowlers to accompany Ben Stokes.
The prospect of axing either Jofra Archer, Chris Woakes, or maybe even Anderson, seems highly unlikely and while Dom Bess hardly featured in that Third Test, the recent hot spell and promising weather forecast will surely convince England they need a spin option for an Old Trafford surface that generally turns.
As such, Zak Crawley could find himself on the sidelines as England try to accommodate so many fine pace bowlers. In such a scenario, that would mean Joe Root has to bat in a number three spot he clearly dislikes while Stokes occupies number four.
It won’t bother Stokes too much but the opportunity to bat one spot higher than his usual number six position gives Pope just that little bit more time to make his mark on the game and his first-innings 91 on the same ground in the third Test against the West Indies demonstrated just what a fine prospect he is.
England were in big trouble when he arrived at the crease on that occasion, the series well and truly on the line, but he and Jos Buttler helped turn the match in their favour and Pope should continue to make rapid strides.
Taking on Stokes in such markets might prove to be a futile exercise but I’m happy to keep faith with Pope for top England series batsman honours at 7/1, while another first-innings fifty – priced up at 7/4 this time – could be on the cards again this week.
England’s rotation policy means playing in the top series bowler markets is becoming less attractive, while for Pakistan all eyes will be on 17-year-old Naseem Shah who is seriously quick, seriously promising, and just as good to watch.
He rattled Australia at times last winter but whether England’s slower surfaces will play to his strengths remains to be seen and I’d prefer to stick with Mohammad Abbas who is a genius with the Dukes ball in his hand.
Not quick, but very skilful, Abbas proved a nightmare for England back in 2018 and while he has struggled for his best more recently, his fine record here for Pakistan and in county cricket for Leicestershire makes him a great inclusion for any staking plan.
As was the case in 2018 – when claiming 18 scalps at an average of 14.20 – he can be Pakistan’s leading series wicket-taker again and looks a bet at 11/4.
England will no doubt be confident of building on their impressive series victory over the West Indies but this is a talented Pakistan outfit who, given the right conditions, could really hurt England if the hosts’ own batting doesn’t quite fire.
Whichever way it goes, we should be in for an exciting few weeks of cricket.
Posted at 1445 BST on 03/08/20
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