England v Pakistan

Thu Jul 29 - Mon Aug 2 10:00 GMT | 11:00 local 11:00 BST	1st Test - England v Pakistan Trent Bridge, Nottingham
Fri Aug 6 - Tue Aug 10 10:00 GMT | 11:00 local 11:00 BST	2nd Test - England v Pakistan Edgbaston, Birmingham
Wed Aug 18 - Sun Aug 22 10:00 GMT | 11:00 local 11:00 BST	3rd Test - England v Pakistan Kennington Oval, London
Thu Aug 26 - Mon Aug 30 10:00 GMT | 11:00 local 11:00 BST	4th Test - England v Pakistan Lord's, London
Sun Sep 5 14:30 GMT | 15:30 local 15:30 BST	1st T20I - England v Pakistan Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
Tue Sep 7           17:00 GMT | 18:00 local 18:00 BST	2nd T20I - England v Pakistan Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
Fri Sep 10 09:15 GMT | 10:15 local 10:15 BST	1st ODI - England v Pakistan Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street
Sun Sep 12 09:15 GMT | 10:15 local 10:15 BST	2nd ODI - England v Pakistan Headingley, Leeds
Fri Sep 17 09:15 GMT | 10:15 local 10:15 BST	3rd ODI - England v Pakistan Kennington Oval, London
Mon Sep 20           12:00 GMT | 13:00 local 13:00 BST	4th ODI - England v Pakistan Lord's, London
Wed Sep 22           13:30 GMT | 14:30 local 14:30 BST	5th ODI - England v Pakistan The Rose Bowl, Southampton

England have named their squad for the first Test and it is much as expected:

England squad Andrew Strauss (capt), James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Steven Finn, Eoin Morgan, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior (wk), Ajmal Shahzad, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott

I might have been inclined to go with Bopara over Morgan as he is in sensational form, but the selectors like their continuity and Morgan simply has to be given his share of goes at Test level to see how he fares, so it is hard to quibble much there.

The playing 11 will be interesting, with the final spot most likely to be between Morgan and Shahzad (though I wonder how secure Jimmy Anderson's place is right now) depending on whether they go with 4 or 5 bowlers. Given that Pakistan's strength is in their bowling, my suspicion is that England will decide that 4 bowlers is enough to cope with a line-up that was rolled over by Shane Watson and Marvus North.

Leaving out Tim Bresnan is the right move , a solid one day bowler , he offers little in the test arena.  I expect Finn to cause the visitors plenty of problems and I back Anderson to come right too. Broad took an 8fer last week , a personal best and let's see if he carries that form into the series.  Graeme Swann's had a well earned rest and he'll be a threat as well. Both sides are more than capable of taking 20 wickets and my prediction of 2-1 to England with a single draw is because I think the fickle English weather will mess up one of the matches !

Zuhair, you're being modest, that English bowling attack doesn't look better than Pakistan own on paper nor TV.  Swann is ahead of Kaneria at the moment, Asif is a much better bowler than Anderson, Gul and Broad, well, they're not world beaters, each have their moments and surely, you can't be rating any of those other bowlers ahead of Aamer.  Not saying Finn/Shezad can't bowl but it's just the same as innocent until proven guilty.  They're new to the scenes so surely you'll rate the proven one as better.  2-1 it is to Pakistan with the bowling.

This will be a very good series, England bowlers will surely do better than what the Aussies did (although Aussies actually did well) looking at the batting ENG again have the advantage, hopefully the young guns from Pakistan will be more comfortable now with the english conditions having played a couple of tests and score well.

England start as favorites but PAK can still win, 2-1 either way, it'll all depend on how well PAK bat.

Haha, Zuhair, i've realised I gave you the wrong impression with my 2-1.  I mean head to head with the bowling, Pakistan wins 2-1, not the series I'm talking about. My bad mate.  If you leave it up to, bar the weather, I wouldn't put it pass Pakistan to get whitewash.  No Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan this time around to help bat them out of trouble.  I'll be surprised if this Pakistan team manage to cross 450 in any innings.

Edited by spin wizard - 27 July 2010 at 1:48pm

300 seems to be their peak mate. Forget 450. Our bowlers wont stay fresh all series long - so don't expect them repeat the good performances over and over again.

Pakistan should be very happy if they can draw the series.
Swann is definetly better than Kaneria but pakistani batsmen are playing spin better than english batsmen. We will surely miss Younus and Yousuf in this long series.

Getting out to Hauritz, North and Herath does not suggest that Kahmad.

I think PAK batsmen will eventually do well than what we are expecting, have a strong feeling that Salman Butt, Azhar Ali and Umer Amin will score heavily.

Rain shouldn't be a concern Sledge, it took just over 3 days for both the tests against AUS to end!

Lucky devil Clobs - how about a little streak with a Cricketworld hat on - I'm sure JP can fund that!

I'm in enough trouble as it is for vanishing off to the Test on my wedding anniversary without getting myself arrested too!

HEre we go - just when I thought Akmal has improved on his keeping - he drops a sitter - shades of that 2006 England tour. cant win like this mates.

Shocking to say the least. And it is a pity - he was pretty good when he started. England 2 down as I type - Strauss could not take full use of the chance he had - and nicks one to Akmal off Aamer. It makes for an interesting post lunch session.

Good that we have the UDRS - or else Trott would have been quite unlucky - out off an inside edge.

It just didn't look out. this hawk-eye sucks. Honours even I would say - an extra wicket would have tilted it in Pakistan's favor though. Anything above 300 in the first inning and Pakistan would be chasing the game thereon.

Originally posted by Clobber I'm in enough trouble as it is for vanishing off to the Test on my wedding anniversary without getting myself arrested too!

 At least you know it's your anniversary mate - get her a cup of tea in bed and you'll be in clover!