Batting is the key for Pakistan and England skippers

RIVAL captains Misbah-ul Haq and Andrew Strauss both believe batsmen will be under pressure to perform as Pakistan take on England in the first Test starting here today.

The pitch for the opening encounter of the three-test series at Dubai Stadium is likely to help spin bowlers and although Pakistan were certain to play with Saeed Ajmal and Adul 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 hell of 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 exclude 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 spin option. Spinners also took 11 of the 25 wickets that fell in the drawn Test between Pakistan and South Africa in 2010.

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,” he said.

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 … If you look at the last series (against Sri Lanka), the team which batted well won.” – AFP