England confident, Pakistan unsure - Controversial rivalry at the Oval begins today
Since the 20th August, 2006, Pakistan will meet England for the first time at the Brit Oval into the controversial venue for the 3rd test match of the ongoing series. English Captain Andrew Strauss has predicted a “different style of play” today.
The Englishmen won the first two test matches with utmost ease and comfort. For them a series whitewash against the young Pakistani side would mean a record of eight consecutive wins. The English captain also feels that a series win against Pakistan will come as a confidence booster for England’http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746. On the other hand, Pakistan will be going into the match in order to maintain some dignity in international cricket. Captain Salman Butt has a lot of expectations from Mohammad Yousuf. The middle-order player could not play the 2nd test at Edgbaston after flying a day before the match.
Salman Butt said, “He was really good at Worcester (on Friday) and once he starts playing test matches, his match fitness will return as he has not played the longer version for seven months”.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Salman-c88163 said that injured fast bowler Umar Gul and wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider will be replaced by young left-arm pacer Wahab Riaz and catching maestro Kamran Akmal. Salman Butt added, ‘With the experience that (Kamran) has and with the performances in the past that he has shown to us, we all hope that he will come out and show some character and do well, maybe this unfortunate thing that has happened to Zulqarnain could do wonders for Kamran. It just takes one big performance for a good player to be back”.
Moreover, the controversial history at the Oval will also be playing at the back of their minds. Stuart Broad’s unnecessary throw at young Haider, the highest scorer for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Inzamam-ul-Haq-c64383 led his team off the field and did not return after the tea interval when Pakistan protested for being penalised for ball tampering.
The event occurred when fast bowler Umar Gul’s in-swinging yorker got Alastair Cook leg-before wicket. Four overs later, controversial Australian umpire Darrell Hair in consultation with Billy Doctrove accused and penalised the Pakistanis for tampering with the ball and awarded five runs to the English side. Normally, such course of action is taken by umpires if and only if the umpires are certain. Otherwise, it is never up to the umpires own desire. Nevertheless, the International Cricket Council (ICC) sprung into action, clearing the Pakistan cricket team of any wrongful act and banned Darrell Hair in future matches. However, Inzamam was banned for 4 test matches for bringing the game of cricket into disrepute.
Today, the Pakistani team will be playing for respect and dignity. It is how the young visiting side would make a comeback against the swinging English pace attack. Salman Butt is yet to see how the incorporation of veteran batsman Mohammad Yousuf and young left-arm fast bowler Wahab Riaz brings positive changes to the side and whether it would pay off for the visitors or not. Above all, would the comparatively young test side be able to handle the pressure of the years of controversy between England and Pakistan and can the young team pull out a surprise at the Oval?
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