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The bowling attack of Pakistan has gained a lot of applause amidst the T20 world cup. With the WTC final coming around and Pakistan still with a possibility to get cling to that, Pakistan would be eying the forthcoming series, particularly against England.
An excellent bowling attack is crucial to the success of any test match team. Taking 20 wickets is the only way that you can win a test match. There is no such thing as defending in test cricket. There are a couple of players who can make their test debut in the series against England.
Fast bowlers in the bowling attack of Pakistan against England
Shaheen Shah Afridi Injured himself during the T20 world cup 2022 final while he was taking the catch of Harry brook. With Shaheen plausible to be rested, Haris Rauf is probable to make his test debut for Pakistan. The Rawalpindi-born fast bowler has played eight first-class matches and has scalloped 31 wickets. PCB is likely to give rest to the left-arm fast bowler to make him spick and spam for the ODI world cup.
Naseem and Faheem, who were part of the previous test series against Sri Lanka, will be back in the squad, with Hassan Ali probably to miss out due to his poor form in all three formats. In the last 5 test matches he played for Pakistan, he has less than ten wickets which are too low from the perspective of a front-line fast bowler.
Abbas is likely to make his return to Pakistan’s Squad after a fissure. Right-arm fast bowler last played for Pakistan back in Aug 2021 and Aamir Jamal, who is the fifth-highest wicket-taker of this year’s first-class season and has also scored a century, will be taken into the squad as he already has made his international debut and is aware of the international pressure.
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Spinners in the bowling attack of Pakistan against England
As it is not certain that Pakistan’s pitches for this test series will assist spinners or will be benefiting fast bowlers or will be comforting batters to the fullest, as happened in the Australian test tour of Pakistan. Pakistan will be enlarging as many spin options as they have fast bowlers to make amendments in the playing 11 according to the conditions.
Abrar Ahmed is the highest wicket-taker of the going-on first-class season and is very certain for him to make it into the squad of Pakistan and also in the playing 11 in the first test. Yasir Shah will be the 2nd Leg spinner to be added as Leg spinners can take wickets even on flat roads but off-spinners are dangling on conditions to help them take wickets. Demand for wrist spinners is more than that for finger spinners in test cricket.
Considering the previous test series against Sri Lanka, Nawaz and Nauman are likely to be added to the squad; the privilege of batting depth that the 28-year-old provides could be very indispensable in the test series. Agha Salman already demonstrated some guts in the series against Sri Lanka and will be in the squad as a middle-order batsman and as a batting allrounder.
Likely Playing 11 of Pakistan in the first test against England
Keeping in mind the previous test series, this year’s domestic performance, conditions and players’ approach toward test cricket, here is the probable playing 11 of Pakistan.
- Abdullah Shafiq
- Imam ul Haq / Shan Masood
- Azhar Ali
- Babar Azam (C)
- Fawad Alam / Agha Salman
- Muhammad Rizwan (WK)
- Faheem Ashraf / M Nawaz
- Hasan Ali
- Abrar Ahmed / Yasir Shah
- Naseem Shah
- Haris Rauf
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