Oval Test: English, Pakistani players to watch out for
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Yasir-Hameed-c2811 is a good batsman with a decent technique and has performed well for Pakistan in the past. But if experts are honest, Pakistan did not have many options to speak off.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Salman-c88163 Butt has had an embarrassing test series. The team, collectively, failed to score more than 300 hundred runs in the two tests in England. Mohammad Yousuf on the other hand has played the same number of test matches as Salman Butt. However, Yousuf has scored 3 test centuries in England with a double century to his credit as well.
The argument that younger players need to be given a chance holds true, but it cannot be denied that the younger players need the helping hand of a fatherly figure in the team. Like always, experienced players in the side help the youngsters out. Mohammad Yousuf has also silenced his critics who were questioning his form prior to his inclusion in the Oval test by scoring more than 40 runs in a warm-up game until rain stopped play. His familiarity with the English pitches could only be seen by his warm-up game where he chose to ignore 16 consecutive deliveries in his 53 minute 40.
Umar Amin and Azhar Ali seem to be promising young players in the Pakistan national side. The 20-year-old Umar Amin has been much talked about as the shining star of Pakistan cricket but many have come and gone without making an impact. The left hander needs to make a strong performance to make a long lasting impact on the selectors. Hence for him, much is at stake. Azhar Ali who made his maiden half century against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 needs to give a strong performance. However, younger players who have little practice playing on English pitches are more of a gamble.
Players to watch out for in the Pakistan side are few and far. In the bowling department, the likes of Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif, Saeed Ajmal and Wahab Riaz will remain in focus. The left armer Wahab is said to produce a lot of movement on English pitches which is why he was preferred over the Tanvir Ahmed. "Both are good bowlers - one is very good new-ball bowler and the other is very good with the old ball," Salman Butt stated on Tuesday.
England on the contrary have consistently performed, and Pakistan players must look out for captain Andrew Straus and experienced players like Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood who will be looking to extend the winning streak. England has not lost a test at home since 2001 following a defeat against Australia. In the last 8 test matches that England has played, they have won 5 and drawn 3. They will not be too happy to spoil their record with a defeat against the vulnerable Pakistani side.
Alastair Cook however, needs to prove his mettle to the English side since he has failed to make an impact in the opening two test matches at Trent Bridge and Edgbaston. In the bowling department, Graeme Swann is an absolute joy to watch. With the way he flights the ball along with the considerable spin he gets from the track, England has found an excellent replacement for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Monty-Panesar-c2024.
Swann has the ability to bother the opposition with his clever bowling, and has already proven his thirst for wicket taking with his career best haul of 6 wickets in the last innings as a glaring example. As for Salman Butt, the major hurdle for him is now to bond with veteran player Mohammad Yousuf and it seems that Salman is making an effort with his recent comments regarding Yousuf. "With his runs he can walk into any team," he said, emphasising the need for youngsters to seek out Yousuf’s help for the Oval test.
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