Pakistan A v England: Test hopefuls have mixed day on tour

“Four England batsmen made half-centuries on another sweltering day of their opening tour match at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, including three from the champion county side Yorkshire”.

“Yes, it’s definitely going to be a tricky tour with their history – in terms of how strong Pakistan are and their record in the UAE”, said Alastair Cook, the England captain as quoted by The Daily Telegraph.

By then, Alam was gone at last – skying an attempted slog-sweep at Moeen to Broad at mid-on after reaching his 50 off 137 balls – and Iftikhar had been dropped again, by Anderson at slip off Rashid on 61.

WORCESTERSHIRE ace Moeen Ali is being backed to be England’s star-turn in the forthcoming series with Pakistan – but only if he forgets his batting and concentrates on his bowling, according to former Test opener Mark Butcher.

Root, for one, is convinced it is most certainly a case of so far so good.

“He’ll attack the spinners early on which is what you want”. England were then 113-3 from 43.4 overs as Gohar worked out a long straight spell of 14 overs, conceding just 35 runs before Cook’s 130-ball half century stay with four 4s came to an end.

“This is the point on which I am thinking too, I have to see how I will keep myself ready for the next series because there’s not much domestic cricket during this period”, Misbah said. We’re giving it our best to get acclimatised as soon as possible.

Root is among a clutch of regulars in all formats who face a daunting winter schedule, and he believes his rest last month can only have helped. As I said, you need to have big runs on board and that requires patience as pitches here change their behaviour on a daily basis especially on the fourth and fifth day.

If the India-Pakistan series doesn’t go ahead, Pakistan’s next test assignment is against England in July next year.

Speaking after England’s net session at the ICC Academy in Dubai, he added: “It’s been a frustrating few years trying to get back in the Test side but it’s something that has pushed me on”.

And he has been given the nod to stake his claim in the two-day tour match, with Jonny Bairstow keeping his place at five, despite stiff competition from James Taylor.

“I know he’s desperate to go on and prove himself as an global cricketer”. The form of Buttler, who averaged 15 with the bat during the Ashes and was pulled out midway through the one-day series, is a real worry.

“He’s shown today that he can play in these conditions and it’ll give him a huge amount of confidence leading up to the series”.