James Anderson should have been included in England squad: Stuart Broad

Jul 03-05: Amir plays his first first-class match back in England when he appears in Pakistan’s tour opener against Somerset at Taunton.

Raja believes Pakistan’s players “felt cheated” by Amir’s initial worldwide return, but now expects the fast bowler to be fully integrated for the four-Test series against England.

“You don’t see many 18-year-old’s bowl like he did, he is an exceptional talent”, said Cook at Lord’s last week. Shah, like the rest of his family, suffers from high blood pressure, as does his wife, and one night when feeling unwell Shah had taken one of his wife’s tablets, which contained chlortalidone, which is on WADA’s prohibited list.

“Swanny got a five-for but I don’t think anyone remembered how”.

Former England cricket skipper Nasser Hussain said he would have picked in-form wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler over Gary Ballance for England’s first Test against Pakistan at Lord’s starting on Thursday.

Paceman Wahab Riaz this week insisted Pakistan have “worked out what he lacks”, claiming the tourists have the Root’s measure ahead of the four-Test series. “He’s a unsafe bowler for any opponent”, Wahab was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail. “It will be our job to get as much out of the wicket as possible”.

While Wahab, who went a long way in cementing his Test spot with a fiery spell of reverse swing on the second afternoon against Sussex, is correct to pinpoint the uncertainty around the No. 4 and 5 positions heading into the series, England’s lower middle-order has been prolific of late. But to bowl a no ball for £50,000 (NZ$90,000) to earn more money is just greed. “They surprise you. So what you have to do is ensure your alignment at the wicket is just right”. That way you have a chance of him nicking off. But you have to be consistent and patient.

And having been in the United Kingdom since May to play for Essex in England’s domestic Twenty20 competition, the hostile quick will look to impart some of his local knowledge on the younger bowlers. “He’s learnt a lot of things, he’s very skilful as well – he knows about his bowling and has a lot of knowledge about cricket”.

“Trent Bridge went well, Durban went well – I hope it will go the same here”.

“(Coach) Trev (Bayliss) had said all week “the opening ball will set the tone and win the Test match” – so I thought everything was on me. He is in your face and it is very hard to get on top of him.

Not all of Amir’s colleagues welcomed him back with open arms to start with, but Riaz was adamant Tuesday the talented 24-year-old now had the support of the whole touring squad.