PAK vs ENG, Head To Head Records, England tour of Pakistan 2022, 1st Test

Updated - 01 Dec 2022, 08:55 AM

England vs Pakistan Test- Photo-AFP
England vs Pakistan Test- Photo-AFP

PAK vs ENG, Head To Head Records, 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.

World Test Championship mace. PC- GettyImages-84615790
World Test Championship mace. PC- GettyImages-84615790

Pakistan squad: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shan Masood, Saud Shakeel, Salman Agha, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Abrar Ahmed, Zahid Mahmood, Mohammad Nawaz, Azhar Ali, Mohammad Ali.

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.

Pakistan vs England
Pakistan vs England (PC-Getty Images)

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.

Brendon McCullum, Ben Stokes
Brendon McCullum, Ben Stokes. (Photo: Twitter)

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 on December 1, 2022. The right-arm pacer had sustained a hip injury during the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2022.

Mark Wood
Mark Wood (Image Credit: Twitter)

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.

The Pakistan side would look for a good start in this game, and openers Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq knows these conditions well. The middle order is formidable for the team, and they have Babar Azam and Azhar Ali in good form. Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, and Faheem Ashraf add solidity to this line-up and will look to contribute in the lower middle order.

Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique
Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique. Image Credit: Twitter

Their bowling attack world needs to use the conditions well. Mohammad Waseem and Naseem Shah shall look to make good use of the new ball. Haris Rauf is an experienced bowler, and he will look to put the English batsmen under pressure. Mohammad Nawaz, Saud Shakeel, and Nauman Ali must fox the opposition with their variety.

Pakistan Predicted Playing XI:

Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Faheem Ashraf/ Shan Masood, Mohammad Nawaz,  Nauman Ali, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Saud Shakeel/ Haris Rauf.

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.

Liam Livingstone will make his England Test debut against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Thursday.
Liam Livingstone, 29, will be one of two new faces named by skipper Ben Stokes for the first Test from the team that ended the English summer.
Liam Livingstone
Liam Livingstone . Pic Credits: Twitter
Ben Duckett will partner Zak Crawley at the top of the order, replacing Alex Lees who was dropped for this tour, adding to his four Test appearances from 2016-17, against Bangladesh and India. Yorkshire batter Harry Brook keeps his spot at No. 5, having replaced the injured Jonny Bairstow at the Kia Oval in the final match of the South Africa series.

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, Head To Head Records, England tour of Pakistan 2022, 1st Test

So far, both nations have played 26 red-ball series since 1954, with England winning 10, and Pakistan winning eight, while the remaining eight series ended in a draw. England have won 25 Tests and Pakistan have won 21 Tests in 85 Test matches between the two countries. 39 Tests have been drawn.

James Anderson and Joe Root
James Anderson and Joe Root (Image Credits: Twitter)

England’s Alastair Cook (1719 runs) and Pakistan’s Inzamam-ul-Haq (1584 runs) are the leading run-getters in head-to-head matches between England and Pakistan. Among active cricketers, former England skipper Joe Root (1010 runs) and former Pakistan skipper Azhar Ali (1009 runs) are the leading run-getters.

Azhar Ali
Azhar Ali (Image Credit: Twitter)

England’s Dennis Compton (278 runs) and Pakistan’s Zaheer Abbas (274 runs) have registered the highest individual scores. The 3rd on the list is an active England opening batter Zak  Crawley (267 runs).

Pakistan’s former spinner Abdul Qadir has registered the most scalps- 82 and is followed by the England pace duo of James Anderson- 74 and Stuart Broad-67. Abdul Qadir registered the best bowling figures in an innings of 9/56.

Tagged:

2022 T20 World Cup Brendon McCullum Harry Brook Head-to-Head ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 Imam-ul-Haq Jack Leach James Anderson Jamie Overton Joe Root Jonny Bairstow Keaton Jennings Liam Livingstone Mark Wood Mohammad Nawaz Mohammad Rizwan Mohammad Wasim Jr Naseem Shah Nauman Ali Ollie Pope Ollie Robinson Rehan Ahmed Saud Shakeel Stuart Broad Zaheer Abbas Zak Crawley