Pakistan vs England third test Preview

After winning the last six test series’, entering the final game of this current one with Pakistan and having nothing more than a draw to dream must seem like new territory for many involved with the England cricket team. The hosts lead 1-0 and now know that a draw will be enough to claim the spoils.

England have not played well but have had chances to win, especially in the first Test when they actually got closer to victory in losing, than they did in the Faisalabad draw which concluded on Thursday.

The series has not panned out how many expected. Seam bowling has dominated both attacks on flat pitches and whilst there has been stunning input from certain individuals, no team has really managed to capitalise on friendly conditions that really could yield 600+ runs.

Both sides have plenty of young talent these days, and the batting line-ups looked exciting for this reason. However, it has been the older statesman who has stolen the show. Inzamam Ul-Haq played his first test in 1992, and in his 104th last week scored two centuries for the first time.

Lahore is a ground he is very fond of too, and the highest score of his career came there. That was a knock of 329 against New Zealand in 2002 and with such a rich vein of form at present it seems to make sense to back him to continue playing well. His average at the stadium is 63.17 from 12 innings.

Shahid Afridi produced a brilliant 92 in the first innings in Faisalabad but is always as likely to be out first ball as to slash a blazing century, and he is suspended for this game anyhow. Mohammed Yousuf, Salman Butt and Younis Khan have all contributed sporadically in the first two games, but Inzy has been by far the most reliable and at 3/1 is worth selecting to be the top Pakistan batsman of the match.

England have to push to win this match, but they will have to do so without Andrew Strauss who is travelling home to be at the birth of his first child. In his place is likely to step Paul Collingwood, with Alistair Cook the man to miss out. The Durham man may have experience but he is not a good enough batsman to be in the top order, and his bowling was hardly used in the first test. We feel it would be a great chance to really test the credentials of Cook, a young man with plenty of promise.

Regardless though, whoever comes in is not going to make the batting line up look more secure than it was with Strauss. The top order has twice collapsed when put under pressure, and the pressure will only mount as this game progresses.

11/4 is the best price on England winning, and so drawing the series, with Pakistan at 9/4. Obviously the hosts only require a draw themselves, and that is a major reason for it being priced at 11/10.

Pakistan have won their last three tests at the Gadaffi Stadium, and with the wind in their sails, will be confident of extending this run. However, with matches like this there are many differing permutations and we feel it is best to leave the overall winner’s market alone for now.

Betting Verdict

1 pt Inzamam to be top Pakistan batsman at 3/1