Time for England to stake their claim
TOURING Australia in an Ashes series is every young English cricketer’s dream and you can be sure it will rest in the back of the players’ minds when they line up for the summer series against Pakistan for the first Test, starting today.
Of the 15 or so players in contention for a Test squad place, I’d say only three, captain Andrew Strauss, Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad, are guaranteed a start for the first Ashes Test this winter.
The rest, whether they be new faces or a few of the old guard looking to put a few things right, will be giving it their all against the Pakistanis to book their place on the plane Down Under.
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But it won’t be easy. Pakistan showed in their recent series with Australia just what a talented side they are. They were swinging the ball through hoops in the English conditions and made the world sit up and notice when bowling Ricky Ponting’s men out for 88 on the first day of the second Test.
In youngster Mohammad Aamir and Mohammad Asif, Pakistan have stumbled across a feared fast bowling attack, who will present the likes of Kevin Pietersen and Alastair Cook with a few problems in their quest for some much-needed runs.
It’s been a long time since Pietersen, in particular, played a dominant, match-winning innings for England, and he needs a big series here to reclaim his status as a world-class batsman.
It’s a big series also for the ultra-talented Eoin Morgan as he looks to cement his place in the five-day set-up. Morgan has been given his chance by Ian Bell’s injury and will be looking to grab it with both hands to show the world he’s not a one-trick pony.
The selectors are also looking forward to unleashing 6ft 7in pace man Steven Finn on the Pakistanis this summer.
Finn is recognised as a huge talent in the Steve Harmison mould but so far has been kept under wraps. This could well be his stage.