Cricket Update: England vs. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 3rd Test at The Oval, Aug 18-22, 2010- Pakistan give themselves an outstanding chance of a victory
Starting off with the 3rd test match in the ongoing series of England and Pakistan, one might have expected a complete successful whitewash of the visitors to the English. The host grasped the first two test matches with utmost ease and comfort. The 3rd test match at the Ovals, which was to be just another practice test match before the Ashes for the host’s, has become a harder test match to win or even compete at this point for the Englishmen. As to the previous performances in the series of the visitors, getting all out for 72 runs in an innings or undergoing a 9 wicket defeat from the professional English side.
On day 3, the English team were flying high with Alastair Cook ensuring his test future by a gutsy 110. Few would have imagined that half of England’s runs would come from a man who had managed just 106 in eight previous innings this season. Cook emerged from a career threatening slump with a mixture of stylish strokes and fair degree of luck. Half chances were given by the English batsman to young left arm fast bowler Wahab Riaz on 23, when he edged on between first and second slip.
English Captain Andrew Strauss says, “All he needs is a bit of luck.”
The host were fine till the tea session after 61 over’s into the game at 194 for 3. Soon after the tea session, English batting power plummeted within the next 15 overs of sensational burst. The host gave away 6 wickets just for 26 runs, the combination of swing and spin onslaught began from Saeed Ajmal and young left arm fast bowler Mohammad Aamir. The two combined their talents, setting batsman in awkward positions, making them unable to negate the late swing and the flighted spinning deliveries from Ajmal.
It was like watching the great Pakistan attacks of the 1990’s with reverse swing complemented by the mystery spin, it was impossible not to draw further comparison between young Aamir, and veteran left arm fast bowler and master to swing, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wasim-Akram-c96292. The two Pakistani bowlers paired up just like Mushtaq Ahmed and Waqar Younis at Lord’s some 18 years ago. Veteran Pakistani leg-spinner Ahmed was known to bowl long spells in test cricket combined with fast bowlers, such as Akram and Younis. Whereas, master of full length fast late swing bowling, veteran right-arm Younis is also part of the same fraternity.
The combination of Younis and Ahmed were the heroes of the 18th June 1992 test match at Lord’s against England. The two veterans dismantled the mighty English side by taking 12 wickets during their spells in the test match. Ensuring a two wicket win for the visitors. The two veterans became to mark their names as one of the most lethal test bowling combinations in the history of test cricket.
Young left-arm fast swing bowler Aamir with his round the wicket, searing pace, full length and late swings was able to dazzle the English batsmen. On the other hand, matured Ajmal bowled his off-spinners with the occasional “doosra “which spins the other way, achieved gripping the balls and leaping the ball through the defence on the English batsman. Together the two youngsters took an impressive of 8-wickets dismantling the English batting and also giving the visitors a chance to win this test.
The English made 223 in the first innings, and the visitors made 308, making a modest lead of 70-60 runs. Whereas, after the English performance on day three which is 221 for 9 respectively, does threaten defeat from the young Pakistani side. The sparking dramatic collapse as the English fell to the onslaught of spin and fast swing bowling. Surely, Pakistani team has a good chance of making through to the 4th test with a much deserved century.
Over the years, the Pakistan’s cricket has produced some extraordinary talent in test cricket, in terms of bowling combinations and batting combination. The fact that Pakistan being a third-world country with such low rate of literacy and above all, the lack of cricketing infrastructure that has greatly affected the level of performance at the international arena. The country has also suffered a natural disaster, displacing millions around the country. Ajmal and Aamir through their 8-wickets partnership must have given some joy to their fellow countrymen.
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