http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013’s top Test team status – Cricket News Update
Backing the England team to come good in their second Test against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 skipper Misbah-Ul-Haq claimed that the Poms’ strong bowling attack could enable them to hold onto their number
one spot.
“They became the number one test side after playing well not only at home but in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 and other countries. But they are in danger of losing their number one ranking if they don’t comeback in Sri Lanka,” Misbah observed.
The English side, after a successful 4-0 Test whitewash of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 in the Pataudi Trophy in July-August 2011, found themselves faltering against the Men In Green in the UAE earlier this year, and conceded a shocking 0-3 defeat to the host team in the extended-overs
leg of the tour.
The loss owed not only to the hot and dry desert conditions, but also to the English batsmen’s inability to tackle the Pakistani spin bowlers effectively, particularly http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Saeed-Ajmal-c87859, who claimed 24 scalps during the 4-match Test series.
However, they managed to bounce back in the limited-overs leg of the tour, courtesy their ruthless bowling attack. Pacer http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ST-Finn-c2566 was especially remarkable, taking 13 wickets in 4 innings in the ODIs, and 4 scalps in 3 innings in the T20 series. After
having familiarized themselves with the conditions, the Poms went on to win the ODIs 4-0, and the T20s 2-1.
“They are competent against spinners in England but they struggle due to the different conditions they find in the subcontinent or recently in UAE,” Misbah pointed out. “The reason is that their batsmen play in the Asian region only after long gaps.”
England are recently in Sri Lanka for a two-match Test series, and after having lost the first match by 75 runs, will be looking to even the score in the second clash, in order to hold on to their top status. With Finn likely to replace the injured Stuart
Broad in the 2nd Test, the English bowling attack is sure to have the potential to take their team to victory.
“England has a top class bowling attack and when you have quality bowlers at your disposal you can always make a strong comeback in any conditions,” the Pakistan skipper said.
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