Pakistan vs England Test Series Preview
The three Test UAE ‘home’ series of Pakistan against England will kick off with the first match at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi from October 13th and we offer up cricket betting tips for the big match.
Pakistan cricket is never without its share of drama and controversy. Ahead of this Test series, there is so much talk on players coming out of the spot-fixing ban, current players being called for suspect actions and the future of their captain. As such, the mercurial hosts would want the on-field action to start at the earliest.
Misbah-ul-Haq has been tremendous for the faction-ridden Pakistan team with his calm leadership. However at 41 years of age, he knows that this could well be his final Test series. If so, he couldn’t have asked for a better setting than facing England on the turning tracks of UAE.
Pakistan will have to do without their mystery spinner Saeed Ajmal who has been left out of the side. Normally, that would have evoked a different reaction but the wily spinner is no longer effective after his remodelled action. The troubles of a suspect action also hit their all-rounder Mohammed Hafeez who will play primarily as a batsman. That could mean more impetus on him to score runs. Back him at odds of $12 at Sportsbet to be Pakistan’s best batsman in the series.
The emergence of leg spinner Yasir Shah (pictured) has been one of the success stories for Pakistan cricket recently. With the well-known aversion of England to wrist spin, do not be surprised if Yasir tangles the English in his web. Odds of $2.50 at Sportsbet on Yasir to be Pakistan’s best bowler looks like a solid play.
England is still buoyed by an Ashes victory and is bracing for the challenge of South Africa later in the season. However, those games are in sharp contrast to the task that awaits them in UAE – both in conditions and nature of contests.
Alastair Cook has to replicate Ashes success without a front-line spinner in spin-friendly conditions. Statistics will have a different story to say on the success of Moeen Ali. However he would be the first to admit that the attitude of opposition batsmen brought him more wickets than his own skill. He will get to bowl a lot of overs in this series which could mean more wickets, so at odds of $5.00 at Sportsbet, Ali remains a strong bet to become England’s best bowler for the series.
It could be with the bat that the challenge comes for England. Cook will have to put his best vigilant drill for the series. All eyes, though, will be on the performance of Joe Root. The Yorkshire batsman is in great form and has enough skills to counter spin. Back him at odds of $3.20 at Sportsbet to be England’s best batsman in the series.
In a series between two teams that are breathing down each other’s neck in the Test rankings, Pakistan start as strong favorites. England will have no doubts about the huge task that awaits them in the heat of Middle East. If they survive a white wash, it would be a worthy result for Cook and his men. Odds of $1.72 at Sportsbet on Pakistan series win looks the best bet of the series.
