Amir aims for win of a lifetime vs England

LONDON: Mohammad Amir has had some of the greatest and undoubtedly the worst days of his career in England — sometimes during the very same match.

But fresh from helping bowl Pakistan to a crushing ninewicket win over England in the first Test at Lord’s, the left-arm paceman hopes he can enjoy the “best memory” with a series win in the second and final Test at Headingley, starting Friday.

Amir, who burst on the world scene as a teenager, got his name on the Lord’s honours board with a six-wicket haul against England in 2010. But in the same game at the ‘home of cricket’, Amir was caught up in a spot-fixing scandal at the which led to a jail sentence and a five-year ban.

That same season, Amir took three wickets for 20 runs in 11 overs at Headingley during a sensational display as an Australia side featuring Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey and Steven Smith was dismissed for 88 in the first innings of the 2nd ‘neutral’ Test. The match, which Pakistan won, saw Amir stake a claim to ‘The Ball of the 21st Century’ when a delivery that pitched on the middle-andleg stump of Mitchell Johnson seamed away late to clip the top of the left-hander’s off-stump.

Amir has rarely hit those Headingley heights in Tests since his return to international stage two years ago. He, however, took five wickets — including four for 36 in the second innings -- as Pakistan outclassed England to win inside four days at Lord’s on Sunday.

“It’s a big achievement winning in Test cricket in England against England at home,” Amir said Wednesday. “If we win the series I think it will be the best memory of my life,” he added.

STOKES DOUBTFUL

England all-rounder Ben Stokes will undergo a scan to assess the extent of a hamstring injury that threatens his participation in the second Test.

Stokes pulled up with a tight hamstring during fielding practice Wednesday. Stokes is likely to face a fitness Test before England select the team for the match in Leeds.

Meanwhile, uncapped Surrey seamer Sam Curran, 19, has been called up as cover.

GETTY Mohammad Amir played a stellar role in Pakistan’s huge win over England in the opening Test at Lord’s last week and if the visitors win at Headingley, it will be their fourth Test series win in England.