In one way, it's maybe not a bad thing that Pieterson is returning home, in that his replacement, Bell, is more likely to hang around and build an innings. The problem is, it's the likes of Pieterson and Flintoff who can take England to a score of 300 which is where the Pak batting line up starts to feel the pressure. With Pieterson going home, and Afridi returning, it does look difficult for England, but if Trescothick and Strauss can see off the opening spell from Shoaib and Rana it would improve their chances considerably.

Even so, it's hard to see beyond a Pakistan win. England's bowlers look at a loss on how to get wickets out there, and if Kamran Akmal can perform a half decent job as a makeshift opener, the prospect of Yousuf, Inzimam, Malik, Afridi and Razzaq to come in at no 4, 5, 6 and 7 isn't one the England attack will relish.