Their Top-Order Has Been Fragile, Says Azhar Ali Ahead of England Tests

Pakistan Test captain Azhar Ali has said his team would be targeting England’s ‘fragile top-order’. Pakistan will play three Tests and as many T20Is in England from August. The first Test of the much-anticipated series will start on July 30.

The right-handed batsman insisted that the hosts’ batting looks vulnerable after the retirement of their former captain and opener Alastair Cook. Azhar Ali said that England have be looking settled with their new opening combination but they ‘haven’t been really confident with it’.

“Looking at their batting, their top-order has been fragile for some time since Alastair Cook retired. They have tried a lot of combinations lately and might be looking a bit more settled, but they haven’t been really confident with it. So there is something for us in it to look at,” Azhar Ali said before departing for England in a chartered flight on Sunday.

Cook, who is England’s highest run-scorer in Tests, brought down curtains on his illustrious career in 2018. Since his retirement, England have used six different combinations at the top-order in just 18 Tests. Out of the several openers who have been tried, only Rory Burns has managed to make a mark.

At the same time, Azhar Ali was all praise for England’s bowling attack in its own conditions. The likes of James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer will lead England’s attack in the series.

“Their bowling attack is brilliant in their own conditions and there is no doubt about it,” Azhar Ali said.

“Other than Jofra Archer we have faced all of them – Broad, Anderson, Woakes, Stokes and even Wood was there, but we have still won against them,” he added.

Pakistan will be looking to replicate the performance they put in on their last Test tour of England. In 2016, they had drawn the series 2-2. One aspect that could spoil their plan is their inexperienced fast bowling line-up. However, Azhar Ali has backed the likes of Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi to excel in English conditions.

“In terms of number of games, of course England have tons of experience in their bowling. But we have the skills: they (our bowlers) are young and have a lot to offer.

“They can give trouble to any team in the world. In a very short time, they have achieved a lot and that is a good sign,” he said.

“You can’t buy experience immediately, and for that you obviously have to play more, but then we have a very experienced coaching staff with Waqar Younis and Mushtaq Ahmed. Their expertise and knowledge can be utilised and they will be helping them,” he added.

The series against England will be Pakistan’s first series since the coronavirus pandemic halted the game in March. On the other hand, England will enter the series on the back of a three-match Test series against West Indies.

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