England set sights on whitewash

Earlier, England had restricted Pakistan to 247-8 as Adil Rashid claimed 3-47 on his home ground. I would say in such a short space of time it is a hard one, but we have certainly been given the time by the European Central Bank which helps.

Sept.2: Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur has conceded that he was finding his way with the one-day team after they slumped to their fourth consecutive defeat against England in Leeds.

England are expected to stick with Jonny Bairstow as wicket-keeper batsman in place of the injured Jos Buttler, who may not be risked after suffering a hamstring strain in the warm-up at Headingley.

“Every time I get an opportunity I want to try to impress, and that’s all I can do”.

However, Morgan – in common with several members of England’s one-day squad – has said his attention for the time being is focused on the ongoing series with Pakistan.

Fellow paceman Hasan Ali, set to feature in the fifth and final ODI in Cardiff today, has taken Irfan’s place in the Pakistan squad for the lone Twentyt20 global against England at Manchester’s Old Trafford on Wednesday – the last match of the tour.

“I would certainly like to think probably within a couple of days after that there will be something definitive”, Morgan told reporters at Headingley.

Shortly before the news of Irfan’s withdrawal was confirmed Azhar Mahmood, Pakistan’s bowling coach, said it had to be acknowledged that Irfan’s size made him a unique case. “You’ve just got to take it on the chin, crack on and hope you take the opportunity when it does come along”.

Pakistan drew the preceding four-Test series with England 2-2 to rise to No. 1 in the world Test rankings.

Losing the series Pakistan team will now play for the honour in the fifth and final one-day worldwide match.

With next year’s Champions Trophy on the horizon and the 2019 World Cup on the longer-term vista, an improving and strengthened England side have plenty to strive for with confidence in their quest to win an ODI global trophy, according to Bairstow. “Between them we are sandwiched with an ODI series in Australia which is incredibly tough”, he maintained. “It’s the decision they make”, he said.

“When Mooresy left and Farby took over, that’s the time they thought, “We’ve got not nothing to lose, we just need to express ourselves on the field”.

“England are a phenomenal cricket team, power hitters all the way down, we haven’t been able to get quick starts and clear the ropes”, he said.

The Pakistan innings though got off to a very slow start and it wasn’t helped when they lost the early wicket of Sharjeel Khan for 16 of the bowling Chris Jordan. After he reported back, the European Central Bank said last month that the tour, which includes three one-day global and two Test match fixtures in October and November, would go ahead as planned.

“They are young players and things will not change overnight, we have to be patient now”, he said on Geo channel. But when we are off, it is important other guys fall in behind and today proved that.