Five key areas - battling spin, cashing in
ESPNcricinfo looks at some of the main battlegrounds ahead of the series in the UAE
Andrew McGlashan in Abu Dhabi
12-Oct-2015
Can England combat spin?
You could suggest that Misbah-ul-Haq, in a recent interview with ESPNcricinfo, was being generous when he said of England: "There is a difference in their squad as many of their players have started to play spin very well." While there might have been some progress, it remains an area of significant concern. During a seamer-dominated Ashes, Nathan Lyon took 16 wickets at 28.25 (better than Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc) and earlier in the summer at Headingley, Mark Craig and Kane Williamson shared six second-innings wickets. So the prospect of combating Yasir Shah may come with a health warning, which is why his injury scare sent shudders through the Pakistan camp. Even in the worst case scenario where Yasir is ruled out, there is still Zulfiqar Babar to contend with. In 2012, Abdur Rehman did almost as much damage as Saeed Ajmal. Two of England's batsmen are pivotal to whether the team will succeed: Alastair Cook repelled India's spinners with magnificent results in the 2012-13 series, which England won, while Joe Root, jostling with Steven Smith and AB de Villiers as the best batsman in the world, has the fleetness of foot and deftness of stroke, allied with power when he wants it, to knock spinners off their game.
You could suggest that Misbah-ul-Haq, in a recent interview with ESPNcricinfo, was being generous when he said of England: "There is a difference in their squad as many of their players have started to play spin very well." While there might have been some progress, it remains an area of significant concern. During a seamer-dominated Ashes, Nathan Lyon took 16 wickets at 28.25 (better than Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc) and earlier in the summer at Headingley, Mark Craig and Kane Williamson shared six second-innings wickets. So the prospect of combating Yasir Shah may come with a health warning, which is why his injury scare sent shudders through the Pakistan camp. Even in the worst case scenario where Yasir is ruled out, there is still Zulfiqar Babar to contend with. In 2012, Abdur Rehman did almost as much damage as Saeed Ajmal. Two of England's batsmen are pivotal to whether the team will succeed: Alastair Cook repelled India's spinners with magnificent results in the 2012-13 series, which England won, while Joe Root, jostling with Steven Smith and AB de Villiers as the best batsman in the world, has the fleetness of foot and deftness of stroke, allied with power when he wants it, to knock spinners off their game.
Lower-order depth
England are likely to bat very deep in this series. Mark Wood will be at No. 10 while Stuart Broad has rediscovered his mojo after he became a walking wicket. Broad's partnerships with Moeen Ali in the Ashes were a key element in England's victory. Moeen will move up the order in this series, but Adil Rashid will provide further ballast to the lower order. Since the 2013-14 Ashes whitewash, England's last four wickets have put on an average of 112 together - they are the most prolific lower order in the world in that period - while Pakistan's have averaged 74. However, Pakistan's lower order has not always been needed to do too much: the top six has been prolific, the best in the world since the same cut-off, in terms of runs per partnership, and by a comfortable margin. England, meanwhile, languish mid-table. Still, if things do get tight during the series England know they have a lower order with the potential to bail them out.
England are likely to bat very deep in this series. Mark Wood will be at No. 10 while Stuart Broad has rediscovered his mojo after he became a walking wicket. Broad's partnerships with Moeen Ali in the Ashes were a key element in England's victory. Moeen will move up the order in this series, but Adil Rashid will provide further ballast to the lower order. Since the 2013-14 Ashes whitewash, England's last four wickets have put on an average of 112 together - they are the most prolific lower order in the world in that period - while Pakistan's have averaged 74. However, Pakistan's lower order has not always been needed to do too much: the top six has been prolific, the best in the world since the same cut-off, in terms of runs per partnership, and by a comfortable margin. England, meanwhile, languish mid-table. Still, if things do get tight during the series England know they have a lower order with the potential to bail them out.
New-ball and old-ball window
With England not having the same quality of spin resources as Pakistan they are going to have to make the small window of opportunity with the new ball count. On the 2012 tour, James Anderson and Broad bowled outstandingly throughout but that was later in the UAE winter rather than the hot, humid conditions they are facing in October. Still, they cannot afford to waste the first 10-15 overs; they have to be able to target Younis Khan, at No. 4, while the ball has an element of shine remaining. For Pakistan, the best laid plans may have to be shredded if Yasir does miss out which would put more onus on the experienced Wahab Riaz to also make some early inroads, although both sides will also be keeping a very close eye out for the first signs of any reverse. One issue with that, however, is that despite this series being played in a desert the outfield in Abu Dhabi is some of the lushest grass you will find which may mean the ball will not scuff up very quickly.
With England not having the same quality of spin resources as Pakistan they are going to have to make the small window of opportunity with the new ball count. On the 2012 tour, James Anderson and Broad bowled outstandingly throughout but that was later in the UAE winter rather than the hot, humid conditions they are facing in October. Still, they cannot afford to waste the first 10-15 overs; they have to be able to target Younis Khan, at No. 4, while the ball has an element of shine remaining. For Pakistan, the best laid plans may have to be shredded if Yasir does miss out which would put more onus on the experienced Wahab Riaz to also make some early inroads, although both sides will also be keeping a very close eye out for the first signs of any reverse. One issue with that, however, is that despite this series being played in a desert the outfield in Abu Dhabi is some of the lushest grass you will find which may mean the ball will not scuff up very quickly.
Get in, cash in
As both Misbah and Cook have noted in the days leading into the series, the 2012 contest was relatively low scoring. England made 300 once and Pakistan reached the mark twice. In the last of those Tests Pakistan were all out for 99 and still managed to win. In recent times, though, they have become used to piling up sizeable totals. It was last year, with the visits of Australia and New Zealand - teams not dissimilar in style and resources to England - when the numbers really swelled. In two Abu Dhabi Tests, Pakistan made nine individual hundreds and did not lose more than six wickets in an innings: the opposition scored one hundred in those same two Tests. Misbah himself averages 120.57 on the ground, including the joint-fastest Test hundred. Visiting sides, though, can compete: after New Zealand were defeated in the first Test in Abu Dhabi, they made 403 and 690 in the next two games to level series.
As both Misbah and Cook have noted in the days leading into the series, the 2012 contest was relatively low scoring. England made 300 once and Pakistan reached the mark twice. In the last of those Tests Pakistan were all out for 99 and still managed to win. In recent times, though, they have become used to piling up sizeable totals. It was last year, with the visits of Australia and New Zealand - teams not dissimilar in style and resources to England - when the numbers really swelled. In two Abu Dhabi Tests, Pakistan made nine individual hundreds and did not lose more than six wickets in an innings: the opposition scored one hundred in those same two Tests. Misbah himself averages 120.57 on the ground, including the joint-fastest Test hundred. Visiting sides, though, can compete: after New Zealand were defeated in the first Test in Abu Dhabi, they made 403 and 690 in the next two games to level series.
All-round value
One area that England are better resourced than Pakistan is in the allrounder department. In Ben Stokes they have one of the most exciting young players in the world and he provides a priceless balance to the side. Moeen is similarly valuable and, with Rashid coming in lower down, it means England can still have their long batting order but also a variety of bowling options. With the current spinners being raw, this is vital for England. Any combination of six bowlers will be able to share the workload around. In a previous life, Cook would have chucked the ball at Graeme Swann or Monty Panesar and set them going but this time he will have to shuffle his pack shrewdly. Still, the question for England is whether their allrounders will be more or less than the sum of their parts.
One area that England are better resourced than Pakistan is in the allrounder department. In Ben Stokes they have one of the most exciting young players in the world and he provides a priceless balance to the side. Moeen is similarly valuable and, with Rashid coming in lower down, it means England can still have their long batting order but also a variety of bowling options. With the current spinners being raw, this is vital for England. Any combination of six bowlers will be able to share the workload around. In a previous life, Cook would have chucked the ball at Graeme Swann or Monty Panesar and set them going but this time he will have to shuffle his pack shrewdly. Still, the question for England is whether their allrounders will be more or less than the sum of their parts.
Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo