‘Fear less’ Pakistan ready to put England under pressure
Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur believes his “fearless” side have everything to gain when they face an “under the pump” England in the first Test at Lord’s on Thursday.
England will be looking for some much-needed home comfort after recent winless Test tours of Australia and New Zealand extended their poor away record in cricket’s longest format to 13 matches with- out a victory.
Pakistan, by contrast, enter this two-match campaign on the back of a moraleboosting five-wicket win over Test debutants Ireland at Malahide last week.
“We haven’t come here not to win,” Arthur told reporters at Lord’s on Tuesday.
“It’s a changing room full of very, very skilled cricketers, very young cricketers, fearless cricketers. If we get the breaks and things go our way, they will certainly put England under pressure.”
“In their home conditions, England are a different team to England abroad,” said Arthur. “We’ve had a look obviously at Buttler, he adds an attacking side to England.”
Two years ago, England were held to a 2-2 home draw by Pakistan in a four-Test series. Since then veteran batsmen Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan have both retired, with Pakistan hoping the likes of Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq can fill the void.
But it is Imam-ul-Haq, the nephew of Pakistan selection chief and former Test batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq, who has made three fifties from as many games this tour — including a matchclinching innings against Ireland.
“He’s a totally different character to Inzi,” said Arthur of Imam, a 22-yearold left-handed opener, who is somewhat quicker between the wickets than his celebrated uncle.
Arthur believes Pakistan are fitter now than when he took over two years ago and more aggressive with it.
“We are an incredibly fit unit. The guys have trained unbelievably hard, not that we weren’t coming in 2016 but that was the start of almost the fitness regime,” he said.
Much could depend on Pakistan left-arm quick Mohammad Amir, who has enjoyed Test success and a Champions Trophy triumph in England, as well as a 2017 County Championship title with Essex, since his career was almost ended by his involvement in a spot-fixing scandal at Lord’s during the 2010 tour.
If the 20-year-old Bess plays he won’t be the youngest slow bowler in the match, with 19-year-old Pakistan leg-spinner Shadab Khan replacing the injured Yasir Shah.
England appear set to decide between seam-bowling all-rounder Chris Woakes and injury-prone fast bowler Mark Wood for the last place in their XI, with one of pacemen Rahat Ali or Hasan Ali dropped from Pakistan’s 12man squad.
“There will be an Ali playing!” joked Arthur.