England don't scare us...

[Wanderer]

Says Bob Woolmer. They're expecting a "revengeful" England when they get there..

"England have already said that before they left Pakistan: 'Wait till we get you in English conditions', but we will do our best to meet a tougher challenge," Woolmer told AFP.

Woolmer, a former England batsman, admitted that the Ashes winners would be a different prospect in home conditions, but reckoned his team had experience on English soil and would be up for the challenge.

He also added that the pacemen on both sides would be key in English conditions as the ball was likely to swing around a lot.

First test begin on 14 July at Lords. (Good thing it's after the football WC..I have only 10 nails)

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Wanderer

He also added that the pacemen on both sides would be key in English conditions as the ball was likely to swing around a lot.

They may be key, but equally important would be the opening batsmen. Pakistani batsmen need to improve significantly in how they deal with the moving/seaming ball if they wish to be competitive - otherwise we will simply not have enough runs on the board, regardless of how good our pacemen may or may not be. And given rumours about Akhtar's fitness, doubts remain over the effectiveness of our pace attack too.

Originally Posted by Wanderer

Good thing it's after the football WC..I have only 10 nails

So who are you supporting in the WC and in the Eng/Pak series? :-)

[Wanderer]

Oh no...I'm not putting myself on the spot...Well, okay..When England toured Pakistan last year, I supported the Pakistani's..because they were the underdogs...

I think they still are, so maybe, just maybe, I'll be a Pakistani supporter for this series too

For the Football, I'm going with the heart (Brazil) and the head (Netherlands).

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Wanderer

I think they still are.

They definitely are that - England at home are much stronger than England in Pakistan, and Pakistan in England are, in theory at least, much weaker than at home. Hence, England's are relatively much better placed to win this series than they were in Pakistan last year.

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Maranello

And given rumours about Akhtar's fitness, doubts remain over the effectiveness of our pace attack too.

The chance of "English conditions" being a major factor in the latter part of the season are pretty remote (how often did the ball help Hoggard throughout the Ashes series? Briefly at Trent Bridge... and that was about it). Go and ask Brett Lee, Michael Kasprowicz and Jason Gillespie just how helpful English conditions can be...

If Rana, Mohammad Asif and Abdul Razzaq are all fit and in form and the late summer is hot and dry then I suspect Woolmer would be happy to go with just that trio plus two from Danish Kaneria, Mushtaq Ahmed and (if he's really worried about the batting) Shahid Afridi.

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Rachael

The chance of "English conditions" being a major factor in the latter part of the season are pretty remote.

Which is precisely why someone like Akhtar would be far more effective than Rana or Razzaq. Not only is Akhtar a far better bowler, he is also the 'right sort of bowler' when conditions are tailor-made for batsmen, which they are most of the time, in most places, except perhaps during May/June in England.

[Wanderer]

I don't follow a lot of county cricket, but hasn't Rana been performing well for his county? And I believe Asif has not been playing to shabby either...And according to Bob they're expecting "swinging conditions"...

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Wanderer

hasn't Rana been performing well for his county?

Very well. As has Mushtaq. However, both are not members of Pakistan's first choice bowling attack, which I guess would be Akhtar, Asif, Razzaq and Kaneria, with part time options provided by Afridi and/or Malik.

Of course, Mushy has completely outperformed Kaneria in the English County season, and Rana has done the same to Asif - but we are not bowling to County-level batsmen in the Tests this summer, and I would be very surprised to see Mushy play.

[Wanderer]

I don't know...Razzaq has gone from bowling all-rounder, to batting all-rounder. I really hope he's not part of the main bowling attack. I'd rather have Shoaib, Asif, Rana and Kaneria. Sami is part of the group, but I'm not sure about him either.

Seems a forgone conclusion that Malik will be opening the batting again (something I am NOT happy with, but Bob is stubborn that way). So he'll be part of the bowling line-up. What's the latest on his elbow problems though? I recall he was here just over a month ago, being operated on...

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Wanderer

I'd rather have Shoaib, Asif, Rana and Kaneria. ...

So would I, but I don't think Inzi or Bob see it that way! They want the extra 50 or so runs that a proper batsman and Razzaq can contribute each innings lower down the order.

Sami should only play if both Akhtar and Rana are not available.

You are right that Malik will open, though he remains an accident waiting to happen - who would partner him though? Woolmer currently prefers Farhat (who is also the incumbent), though Butt is the better longer-term option. Malik's bowling should never be a consideration in Tests, wonky elbow or not - unless England decide to spend the day sweeping!