I tried to mock England’s failure in the last test in front of my friends but they just came up with; ‘India aren’t doing any better either’ or ‘we still beat you 4-0 last summer’. However what they don’t realise is that England were playing in conditions which they are familiar with and India were playing in conditions which were alien to them just like England are doing right now. The point is England don’t want to end up like India where they are the bullies at home but are being bullied away from home.
Location: Abu Dhabi
Start time: 6:00(GMT), 25th January 2012
Having said that England have always responded well to big defeats under Flower’s tenure so you would back them to do the same this time. However this time it’s different. This is England’s first series against a sub continental team in the Asia under Andy Flower (excluding Bangladesh) where England have won 1 of their last 21 matches. Flower did say that the batsmen have a very good record and average against spin. But that average has been elevated due to playing against orthodox spinners on seamer friendly surfaces. This is England’s big test against unorthodox spin on tracks which will offer turn and bounce.
Lets face the facts; England would much rather be facing a red-hot Dale Steyn on a green Newlands track than face Ajmal on a dry wicket in Dubai. They’d much rather be playing under the clouds at Headingley compared to the sun in Abu Dhabi. But Test cricket is all about how well you adapt and learn, outside your comfort zone which is what England need to do and they need to do it fast. They might not like facing spin bowling for long periods of time but they need to knuckle down and get the job done which is one of the factors that have helped them in their meteoric rise to the top.
Pitch and squads
The pitch is expected to be flatter than the one in Dubai and if the last 2 matches at this venue are any indication, then this could well be a high scoring draw.
I can’t see Pakistan going in with a different squad unless there is an injury scare or an unlikely hypothetical situation of someone being rested. Aizaz Cheema was having problems with his hamstring but he should be fine for this match.
Pakistan (probable): 1. Hafeez 2.Taufeeq 3. Azhar Ali 4. Younis Khan 5.Misbah (capt) 6.Shafiq 7.Adnan Akmal(keeper) 8.Rehman 9.Cheema 10.Gul 11.Ajmal
England have a lot of key decisions to make. I personally would play Panesar instead of Tremlett but since that goes against England’s policy of playing 3 quick’s, Steve Finn comes into the equation. I can’t see the England management dropping Morgan for Bopara without letting him have a fair run in the team.
England (probable): 1.Strauss (capt) 2.Cook 3.Trott 4.Pietersen 5.Bell 6.Morgan 7.Prior (keeper) 8.Broad 9.Swann 10.Anderson 11. Tremlett/Panesar/Finn
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