Removing the coin toss from Test Championship matches will be one of the issues up for discussion at an ICC cricket committee meeting later this month. The England and Wales Cricket Board will reportedly give its backing to the proposal which is an attempt to nullify the home advantage which currently exists in Test cricket.
Home advantage, however, is not something that Paksitan’s cricketers have enjoyed in recent years. Security concerns mean that all of their ‘home’ matches currently take place in the United Arab Emirates, though they are on the road this summer and the first opponents for England in a season which will also see a series against India.
It is proposed that the away team simply given the choice to bat or bowl first in Test matches, which would not quite follow the change made in County Championship games two summers ago, when visiting teams are given the chance to bowl first or opt for the traditional toss-up between captains.
Ahead of facing India, England are badly in need of a morale-booster after an awful winter Down Under in which they lost the Ashes, spectacularly, and were beaten by New Zealand. In truth, Pakistan should provide that.
Younus Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq have retired and their best bowler, Yasir Shah, has a long-term injury. They’ve won only two of their last 11 Test matches and one of those was against Test debutants Ireland. Five of their squad hadn’t played Test cricket before this year and their attack will rely heavily on Mohammad Amir and left-armer Rahat Ali. Most of the other bowlers are relatively untried in the longer version of the game and might be easy pickings for England’s batsmen in English conditions.
Pakistan’s batting looks even more fragile once you look beyond Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq though, once again, Mickey Arthurs team will not lack support at either Lord’s or Headingley.
England have recalled Jos Buttler to the Test arena to replace James Vince and that will almost mean captain Joe Root moves up to number three, a move long called for. However, Jonny Bairstow will keep the wicketkeeping gloves having proved himself one of the world’s best keeper/batsman over the last 18 months. Buttler has been in terrific form in the IPL and England’s selector he can maintain that level in the red ball game. Otherwise, the England line-up will have a familiar look about it.
Unseasonal spring sunshine might mean the First Test starts under blue skies and there is a slight chance conditions will be a bit quicker than English cricketers are accustomed to in May but it’s hard to see Pakistan being competitive in, let alone winning, at Lord’s. They are the enigmas of world cricket but might struggle to get enough runs on the board to trouble their hosts.
A good forecast suggests the draw at 9/2 with several bookmakers including Betfred, is unlikely. A general 4/1 for Pakistan to win also looks a long-shot but England have lost five of their last seven Test matches so you would have to be brave to have a maximum bet on a home win at 1/2. Buttler is 8/1 with Betfred to be England’s leading batsman in the First Test but Root is usually a pretty good bet in this market and is 3/1 with Betway.
