PAK vs ENG, England Playing 11 vs Pakistan (Predicted), England tour of Pakistan 2022, 1st Test

PAK vs ENG, England Playing 11 vs Pakistan (Predicted), England tour of Pakistan 2022, 1st Test.  PAK vs ENG 1st Test starts at 10: 00 AM on December 1 (Thursday). The three Tests between Pakistan and England are part of the ICC World Test Championship’s second cycle and are scheduled to be played in Rawalpindi (December 1-5), Multan (December 9-13), and Karachi (December 17-21).

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The upcoming Tests against England is Pakistan’s fifth series in the current WTC cycle — their last series will be the two Tests against New Zealand at home in December 2022 and January 2023. These three Tests will be England’s final appearance in the second edition of the World Test Championship, where they are ranked seventh as compared to Pakistan’s fifth position in the table.

England squad: Ben Stokes, James Anderson, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes, Will Jacks, Keaton Jennings, Jack Leach, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Mark Wood, Rehan Ahmed.

Pakistan has not lost a Test Match at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium since cricket resumed in the country. England hasn’t won a game away from home in the last 10 Test Matches they have played. England lacks a good spin bowling attack, and this will be a weakness on a turning Rawalpindi track.

Pakistan lost the last home series against Australia, and they will aim for a better show here using the home advantage. England lost the last series against West Indies, and the side would be eager for a positive performance in this game.

The English team has struggled in away tours over the last two years. They don’t have any entry in the victory column away from home in the last 10 games. The lack of a world-class spinner hurts the side’s balance. Pakistan would make lives challenging for the visitors, and it will be interesting to see how the English players cope with the challenge.

England finished its first tour to Pakistan in 17 years with a thumping 67-run win in their T20I decider to clinch the exciting seven-match T20I series 4-3 prior to the 3 Test series. Before the first Test match that will be played in Rawalpindi from December 1, 2022, the England cricket team have dealt with a massive blow to their fast bowling unit.  After 17 years, it is time for England to play against Pakistan in a three-match Test series.

With international cricket resuming in Pakistan, security issues have always been doing the rounds of headlines but the English outfit has shown confidence in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and gearing up for the series opener. This is England’s first challenge away from their home after coach Brendon McCullum and skipper Ben Stokes took over the Test squad and they will certainly want to make it count.

Ahead of the first Test match that will be played in Rawalpindi, England have endured a massive setback to their plans. Their spearhead Mark Wood has been ruled out of the first Test that is scheduled to be played from December 1, 2022. The right-arm pacer had sustained a hip injury during the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2022.

England played a seven-match T20 series before the start of the 2022 T20 World Cup but as of now, they will be competing in their white flannels.

Ben Stokes’ team would be touring Pakistan after a gap of 17 years, and the England skipper would look for a good show from his players. Pakistan will be a formidable opponent to beat in its backyard, and the visitors must overcome the challenge thrown at them. They haven’t won in the last 10 games away from home. Ben Stokes would look to get over this miserable run.

It will be a massive challenge for openers Zak Crawley and Keaton Jennings in this game. The pair shall need to set up a good partnership in this game. The middle order has experienced, and the side would expect runs from Ollie Pope, Joe Root, and Ben Stokes. Ben Foakes and Jamie Overton have to do well down the order, as the Pakistani spinners would test them.

Veteran pacer James Anderson has to bring his experience to play, and he will look to pick early wickets while sharing the new ball with Oliver Robinson. Rehan Ahmed is likely to get his debut in this Test series, and he must bowl good spells with Jack Leach and use these conditions well. The side would like to see a good show from Jamie Overton in this game.

England Predicted Playing XI:

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Ollie Pope, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Ben Foakes (wk), Liam Livingstone, James Anderson, Jack Leach, Ollie Robinson

Talks over postponing the first Test between England and Pakistan by a day have been held after the tourists’ squad was affected by an illness. About 14 members of the party of players and coaches were advised to rest at the hotel on Wednesday, rather than attend training in Rawalpindi. About half of the playing squad of 16 has been hit, including captain Ben Stokes. Only five took part in an optional training session on Wednesday.

Joe Root said he had suffered symptoms on Tuesday, but felt well enough to train on Wednesday, along with fellow batters Zak Crawley, Harry Brook, Ollie Pope, and Keaton Jennings. Head coach Brendon McCullum and batting coach Marcus Trescothick were also in attendance.

PAK vs ENG, England Playing 11 vs Pakistan (Predicted), England tour of Pakistan 2022, 1st Test

Zak Crawley

Zak Crawley has featured in 28 Tests amassing 1363 runs averaging 27.26 with 2 tons and 6 fifties. His highest of 267 came against Pakistan in 2020 in England. His other ton-121 came against West Indies in March 2022.

Ben Duckett

Ben Duckett debuted way back in 2016 but has only played 4 Tests- all in 2016- scoring 110 runs averaging 15.71. He has also featured in 8 T20Is and 3 ODIs and averages above 40.

Joe Root

Joe Root, the former England Test skipper, has played 124 Tests and amassed 10504 runs averaging 50.01. He has 28 tons and 54 fifties. He debuted way back in 2012 against India. He has 5 double tons besides his name. His highest score of 254 came against Pakistan in Manchester in 2016.

Ollie Pope

Ollie Pope has played 30 Tests scoring 1488 runs averaging 31 including 2 tons and 9 fifties. He debuted against India in 2018. His highest is 145 against New Zealand and 135* against South Africa. In 2020, he has amassed 481 runs averaging 43.73 and in 2022 he has amassed 475 runs averaging 33.93.

Harry Brook

Harry Brook has played in only 1 Test and scored 12 runs in the only innings. He has also scored 372 runs in 20 T20Is with 81* being his highest score. His only Test came against South Africa in September 2022. His 81* came against Pakistan in the 3rd T20I against Pakistan in the 7-match T20I series.

Ben Stokes (c)

Ben Stokes has retired from ODIs but his 52* in the T20 World Cup 2022 final saw England win the WC against Pakistan. The all-rounder debuted against Australia way back in 2013 and has amassed 5429 runs in 86 Tests averaging 36.19 and has taken 192 scalps averaging 31.51.

Ben Foakes (wk)

Ben Foakes, the England Test skipper, has amassed 746 runs in 17 Tests averaging 31.08 with 2 tons and as many fifties. He has affected 48 catches and 5 stumpings. He debuted way back in 2018 in Tests against Sri Lanka.

Liam Livingstone

Liam Livingstone is yet to debut in Tests but with Pakistan favoring spinners, his part-time spin may come in handy. He has played 29 T20Is and 12 ODIs managing 673 runs and taking 21 scalps overall. He debuted in 2017 in T20Is and in 2021 in ODIs.

James Anderson

James Anderson, the veteran pacer, has taken 667 scalps in 175 Tests averaging 26.22. He is the 3rd highest wicket-taker in Tests. He has also played the 2nd most Tests among cricketers.

Veteran England pacer James Anderson is the only member in the touring group who was part of the Three Lions’ last tour of Pakistan in 2005. The 40-year-old made his Test debut in 2003 against Zimbabwe at Lord’s, and he is still a vital cog in England’s Test bowling attack, both at home and away.

Jack Leach

Jack Leach has played 29 Tests and has taken 95 scalps averaging 32.62 with 4 five-wicket hauls and 1 ten wicket haul. He recently registered his best career-best figures of 5/66 against New Zealand in June 2022. In the same Test, in the first innings, he picked 5/100. It was his first 10-wicket haul in a Test match. He debuted way back in 2018 against New Zealand.

Ollie Robinson

Ollie Robinson has played 11 Tests and has picked 51 scalps averaging 19.8. He had registered 3 five-wicket haul in his short Test career. His career-best figures of 5/49 came in England’s last Test against South Africa.