Broad strikes for England in first Test

DUBAI: Paceman Stuart Broad struck twice to help England check Pakistan’s progress after their openers put on a century stand on the second day of the first Test at the Dubai Stadium on Wednesday.

The 24-year-old, who survived a foot injury on the eve of the match, provided his team the breakthrough after Mohammad Hafeez and Taufiq Umar hit attractive half-centuries to bolster Pakistan’s chances of taking a big lead.

Pakistan were 138-2 at lunch, with Hafeez on 70 and Younis Khan unbeaten on six, as they trail England’s first innings total of 192 by 54 runs.

Broad bowled Umar with a beautiful delivery which held its line and hit the off-stump, just one ball after Chris Tremlett dropped Hafeez off a miscued hook which resulted in a single.

Umar hit ten boundaries in his 58 and was sedate during his 113-ball stay at the crease, putting on 114 with Hafeez for the opening wicket.

Three overs later, Broad swung one away from Azhar Ali and had him caught behind by wicket-keeper Matt Prior, much to the jubilation of his team-mates.

Ali made just one.

It could have been a more fruitful session for England had they been at their best in fielding.

Ian Bell failed to hit the stumps when Hafeez, batting on 44, ran for a single after pushing Tremlett to square-leg and was well short of his crease after being sent back by Umar.

Resuming at 42-0, Hafeez and Umar negotiated the pace-cum spin attack with confidence. Hafeez brought up Pakistan’s hundred when he hit Graeme Swann to the boundary.

It was Umar who reached his fifty first, hitting Swann for two consecutive boundaries to complete his 13th Test half-century. Hafeez reached his seventh with a single off Tremlett.

Hafeez has so far hit ten boundaries during his 127-ball knock.
England’s lone spinner Swann did get some turn, but was still wicket-less.
Broad had figures of 2-35.

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Pakistan spin bamboozles England for 192

DUBAI: England made a meager 192 runs as Pakistan bowled them out in 73 overs during the opening day of the first cricket Test against Pakistan at Dubai Stadium here on Tuesday.

Pakistani off-spinner Saeed Ajmal destroyed England’s top-order with figures of 7-55. The last man out, James Anderson, was sent to the pavilion after being given LBW on Ajmal’s third delivery of his 25th over.

34-year-old Ajmal, whose claims of a mystery delivery surrounded the lead-up to the three-Test series, came into his own after being introduced in the 19th over, leaving England, who decided to bat on a slow turning pitch, in an early spin.

Ajmal dismissed Andrew Strauss (19) with the last delivery of his first over and then had Ian Bell (nought) with the first ball of his next before trapping Kevin Pietersen (two) leg before three balls later.

The early success of Pakistan, who chose Ajmal and left-armer Abdul Rehman as two spinners, would leave England rueing their decision to leave out the in-form Monty Panesar and play three seamers alongside off-spinner Graeme Swann.

Pakistan introduced spin as early as in the sixth over but it was Mohammad Hafeez and not Ajmal who came onto bowl and was instantly rewarded when England opener Alastair Cook edged his third delivery to Adnan after scoring three.

Paceman Aizaz Cheema then had Jonathan Trott (17), caught behind by a diving Adnan off a leg-side edge to leave England at 31-2.

Ajmal, who threatened to unveil a mystery delivery against England during the series, then bowled Strauss who went for a pull but missed the ball as well as his off-stump.

Bell was then caught and bowled off a straight delivery from Ajmal.

Pietersen survived a confident appeal but Ajmal asked for the Decision Review System which forced umpire Billy Bowden to change his decision, much to the amazement of Pakistan team.

Pakistan: Misbahul Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Taufiq Umar, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Adnan Akmal, Umar Gul, Aizaz Cheema, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman.

England: Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Chris Tremlett, James Anderson.

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Two spinners likely for Pakistan; Strauss stays mum

DUBAI: Rival captains Misbah-ul Haq and Andrew Strauss believe batsmen will be under pressure to perform as Pakistan take on England in the first Test, which starts here on Tuesday.

The pitch for the opening encounter of the three-Test series at Dubai stadium is likely to assist spin bowlers and although Pakistan were certain to play Saeed Ajmal and Abdul Rehman, Strauss gave little hints at England’s combination.

“It will depend on the state of the wicket, you always pick your team which you think gives you the right balance to win a Test and if the wicket turns a lot then obviously two spinners become an option,” he said.

England, who rose to the top of the world Test rankings in August last year, last played two spinners in a Test in March 2010 when off-spinner James Tredwell partnered Graeme Swann.

But they will be hard pressed to include Monty Panesar, considering his eight-wicket haul in their second tour game win and the history of the pitch which helps spinners.

Pakistan won one of the two Tests played here so far, against Sri Lanka in October last year on the back of 13 wickets by the trio of Ajmal, Rehman and opener Mohammad Hafeez, who gives them an extra option in spin.

Spinners also took 11 of the 25 wickets that fell in the drawn Test between Pakistan and South Africa in 2010.

For England, losing Tim Bresnan – who gives them a batting option – as soon as the tour started, will push them to either play with five batsmen and include a third seamer, but Strauss remained philosophical.

“I will say we are trying to put the right team to win a game of cricket. That’s always our philosophy,” said Strauss, who showed confidence paceman Stuart Broad will recover from a minor foot injury.

“Because the wickets here are reasonably flat it’s a great challenge for our bowlers who have done well, so its a logical next step to say ‘right come on lets prove ourselves’ and certainly you have to play well against them,” said Strauss.

Strauss said Panesar bowled well and it was nice to see him back in the picture after playing the last of his 39 Tests at Cardiff in the 2009 Ashes.

“Monty bowled exceptionally well (in the side game) and it’s fantastic to see him back, but as I said you pick the side which fits the conditions and allow you to win and that’s all we will do tomorrow.

“The first Test always sets the tone for the rest of the series so the initial skirmishes are always important, Pakistan have played lot more cricket out here but the things are quite even in this respect as we have a good build up.”

Misbah agreed batsmen will face a real test in Dubai.

“In Dubai whichever team bats good, gets an edge and its not only the game of spinners, I think fast bowlers also play a very important role, if you look at the last series (against Sri Lanka), the team which batted well won,” he said.

“The wicket looks much better than the last Test we played here, we have a balanced attack and the conditions here favour us, but at the same time it is important to play good cricket against England.

“They are the top side in the world so we just can’t rely on the fact that we know the conditions well. We still have to play good cricket to beat them.”

The second Test will be played in Abu Dhabi (January 25-29) while the third will be played in Dubai from February 3-7. The Tests will be followed by four one-day and three Twenty20 internationals.

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