Michael Vaughan Wants Pakistan To Make One Change Ahead Of Third Test Against England

Former English captain Michael Vaughan has asked for Pakistan to make one change ahead of the third Test against England in Southampton. With the second Test resulting in a draw due to bad light and unhelpful weather conditions — the tourists still trail the three-match series 0-1. They must earn a victory in the final game and Michael Vaughan has suggested dropping Fawad Alam.

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Fawad Alam returned to Pakistan’s Test side after 11 years. He last played a Test against New Zealand in Hamilton in 2009. However, he faced only four deliveries in the first innings before Chris Woakes trapped him in front for LBW without opening his account.

The southpaw suffered a dreaded return to Test cricket. Pakistan’s innings as a whole struggled as well, managing 236 on the backdrop of half-centuries from Fawad Alam and Mohammad Rizwan.

Michael Vaughan called for leg-spinning all-rounder Shadab Khan to swap places with Alam for the third Test. Vaughan reckoned that the curators would use the same pitch at the Ageas Bowl as they will not have enough time to prepare a new one, owing to bad weather. Hence, an extra spinning option along with a player, who can contribute with the bat would help the visitors’ cause.

“I would just make one change and bring Shadab Khan in for Fawad Alam, just because we saw some spin in the last match. Also, I think they will use the same pitch, as the last Test match, because of lack of time to prepare a new one due to bad weather. So, you would want that extra spinning option and a player who has shown that he can bat in these English conditions,” Vaughan told Cricbuzz.

The Pakistan team has surprised me this week: Michael Vaughan

The 2005 Ashes-winning skipper was surprised by Pakistan’s batsmen by getting that score in the first innings. The Manchester-born cricketer felt that the visitors’ innings should have finished at 150-170, praising Rizwan for batting nicely. The 45-year old lauded Babar Azam and Abid Ali too for their show with the willow.

“The Pakistan team has surprised me this week by getting that score in the first innings. Realistically they should have been bowled out for 150 or 170. Rizwan played beautifully, reading the conditions nicely. Babar Azam is in a decent run of form and Abid Ali got a nice 60 at the top of the order,” he added.

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