Lord’s slope can aid bowlers and batsmen
FIRST TEST THIRD TEST
Lord’s, London Thursday, July 14 – Monday, July 18
The Home of Cricket has hosted 132 Test matches since Australia first visited back in 1884, though the last time Pakistan visited HQ was shrouded by the spot-fixing scandal.
The famous Lord’s slope can be a bowler’s best friend, but equally can be their worst enemy. Batsmen have to be wary, too, of the ball jagging back in. The south-west side of the ground is actually nearly two and a half metres lower than the north-west.
There can be no better place to start this series with 30,000 people in attendance.
Old Trafford has not hosted a Test match for two years and forms a famous sporting double act with the “other” Old Trafford.
It’s a very different looking ground compared to years gone by with ‘The Point’, Old Trafford’s distinctive £12 million conference centre, dominating surroundings.
The capacity of the ground can be increased by several thousand for England matches and the only T20I between the Three Lions and Pakistan this summer will also be staged here. Edgbaston, Birmingham Wednesday, August 3 – Sunday, August 7
The second biggest cricket ground in the UK is arguably the place to be for the best atmosphere. It has seen some thrilling matches through the years being the scene for England’s two-run victory over Australia in 2005.
England have a good recent record here, and beat Pakistan by nine wickets in 2010, skittling the visitors out for 72 in their first innings.
Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad both took four in that innings and it’s a ground where bowlers tend to always be in the game.
Old Trafford, Manchester Friday, July 22 – Tuesday, July 26
The Oval, London Thursday, August 11 – Monday, August 15
Traditional scene for the final Test match of the summer, Pakistan were victorious here in the third Test of 2010, when Lord’s, unusually, hosted the fourth and final match.
Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Amir, both in this squad, both took five-wicket hauls at the Oval six years ago.
The first Test on English soil was played here in 1880 with Australia the tourists, and it was the Baggy Greens who were victorious in the last Test played on the ground last summer.