Sports FRIDAY, JULY 22, 2016 England turn to Saqlain to help with spinners MANCHESTER: England are in a spin in more ways than who were successful against him played.” So keen are one as they head into the second Test against Pakistan at England to play ‘positive’ cricket that several batsmen gave Old Trafford today looking to level the four-match series at their wickets away at Lord’s. 1-1. Alastair Cook’s men suffered a 75-run defeat inside Stokes hinted at a more refined approach by saying: four days in last week’s first Test at Lord’s, with Pakistan “Old Trafford is known to spin, and obviously that’s going leg-spinner Yasir Shah taking 10 wickets. Now England will to favour (Shah). “So we might have to change where you hope to play Shah better at Old Trafford, where the pitch is have to think ‘I can do this but no, I can’t do that’, if it’s likely to offer more turn. spinning and bouncing. “It will just be working out a game- They also have to decide whether to give a home debut plan in terms of how to score, but not giving your wicket to leg-spinner Adil Rashid, either in support of, or as a away.” As England, who also have question marks over top replacement for, Moeen Ali. Not only was off-spinner Ali, order batsman James Vince, ponder their options, it looks who has spent the bulk of his career as a top-order bats- as if Pakistan will field the same side, although openers man, out-bowled by Shah at Lord’s, he also fell to him in Mohammad Hafeez and Shan Masood may be looking over the second innings when recklessly charging down the their shoulders after poor returns at Lord’s. pitch. Having come through all the hype surrounding England have now called in former Pakistan off-spinner Mohammad Amir’s return to Test cricket for the first time MANCHESTER: England cricket captain Alastair Cook takes Saqlain Mushtaq as a coaching consultant at Old Trafford. since his 2010 spot-fixing crime at Lord’s, they gave fans at part in a practice session on the eve of the second test match While they will hope he can advise Ali and Rashid, his the ‘home of cricket’ much else to talk about last week. between England and Pakistan at Old Trafford Cricket greatest short-term benefit may lie in tips about how to Misbah-ul-Haq marked his first Test at Lord’s with a fine Ground.— AFP play spin. hundred which saw the 42-year-old perform a series of England have been without a specialist spin coach since press-ups in celebration. The captain’s gesture in thanking England axe Finn, former Pakistan leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed, now in the military staff for the squad’s pre-tour boot camp was tourists’ camp, returned home in 2014. Having picked a 14- echoed by the team after Amir had sealed victory by bowl- man squad, England could field two spinners especially as ing last man Jake Ball. Ball from 2nd both all-time leading wicket-taker James Anderson (shoul- But in pure cricket terms it was Shah who stole the der) and all-rounder Ben Stokes (knee) have been passed show, and Pakistan fielding coach Steve Rixon was not sur- Test squad fit after they each missed the first Test. Anderson is due to prised by England’s struggles. “I think most countries return on his Lancashire home ground amid suggestions around the world play ‘wristies’ (wrist-spinners) quite poor- MANCHESTER: England captain Alastair Cook announced yester- that Cook and coach Trevor Bayliss were happy to accept ly,” he said. “To see someone master it and play them well day that the hosts had reduced their squad for the second Test his assurances that he was fit for Lord’s, only for the pair to is a treat to see, but I haven’t seen a lot that do it yet,” the against Pakistan from 14 to 12 after dropping Steven Finn and be over-ruled by the selectors. Meanwhile Stokes was look- former Australia wicket-keeper added. — AFP Jake Ball. The fast bowlers, who both played in England’s 75-run ing forward to working with Saqlain, who took four for 74 defeat by Pakistan in the first Test at Lord’s, were released ahead when Pakistan beat England by 108 runs in the second Test of the second Test, which starts at Old Trafford today. at Old Trafford in 2001. Now fit-again paceman James Anderson (shoulder), England’s Starc can all-time leading wicket-taker, and all-rounder Ben Stokes (knee), Brains trust who both didn’t play at Lord’s, are set to make their Test return in “You’ve got to use the knowledge of the people you’re Manchester. England’s decision means they could give a home lucky enough to have come in and work with you,” said surpass 300 debut to leg-spinner Adil Rashid, all of whose three Test appear- Stokes. “It would be silly if the batsmen didn’t try to get ances to date were away to Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates anything out of him, pick his brains and ask how the guys last year, in support of off-spinner Moeen Ali. wickets: “We’re going to name a 12 — Steven Finn and Bally are miss- ing out,” Cook told reporters at Old Trafford on Thursday. “That means, obviously, Ben Stokes and Jimmy Anderson are back in - McDermott and Adil’s going to be in the 12, just depending on what happens to that wicket by tomorrow (Friday).” Ball took just one wicket on NEW DELHI: Former Australia cricketer and bowling his Test debut while Finn was below his best on his Middlesex coach Craig McDermott has heaped praise on Mitchell home ground, with pace bowling all-rounder Chris Woakes tak- Starc ahead of a Test series in Sri Lanka, predicting the ing 11 wickets in the match. pacer will easily cross the 300-wicket mark. Starc has “It’s tough on Jake and Steven. Jake on debut bowled better bagged 91 wickets from 25 Tests so far in his interna- than just taking one wicket (suggests),” said Cook. “But in the tional career, and Australian coach Darren Lehmann is overall picture, it’s another person we can call upon and add in among those who have already said the 26-year-old can competition for places ... and keep people on their toes.” There eventually reach the milestone. was suggestions hat Anderson, who will now make his Test “I think that’s underselling him,” McDermott told AFP return at his Lancashire home ground, had declared himself fit to this week in New Delhi where he is promoting his sports play at Lord’s. Cook and England coach Trevor Bayliss reportedly wanted academy. “I think Mitchell can certainly sail past the 300- him to play at Lord’s, the first of a four-Test series, but were said wicket mark and can get many more.” “And I would love to have been over-ruled by the selectors. Cook, however, defend- to be there to shake his hand when he passes 300 ed the decision by saying: “It’s great to have Jimmy back. He’s an because it’s a hell of a milestone for any bowler,” said outstanding bowler, (and) it’s great to have him fully fit. “If he’d McDermott, who recently quit as Australia’s bowling bowled 30 overs (at Lord’s) and really hurt his shoulder, and was coach. The lanky pacer, who missed the second half of out again, we’d all be sitting here and be disappointed with that Australia’s Test summer and the World Twenty20 in India decision. “We probably erred on the side of caution, and have to with an ankle injury, will be looking to get his rhythm hope we now have him for three games.” back in the first Test in Pallekele starting on July 26. Starc made an impressive one-day comeback in the ‘Bounce back’ recent West Indies tri-series, with eight wickets in five For all the debate about Anderson, it was England’s batting- games, helping Australia to clinch the title. The New particularly their struggles against Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir South Welshman is just two shy of 100 one-day interna- Shah, who took 10 wickets in the match-that was behind their tional scalps from 51 matches, with an impressive aver- defeat at Lord’s. “No one really put their hand up with the bat in age of 19.79 and an economy rate of 4.82. “I think he is that second innings,” said Cook. “In the first innings, no one went getting one-day wickets for fun. Certainly his Test bowl- on and got close to that (big) score,” added opener Cook, who ing is improving every time he takes the field for led the way for England with 81. “It would be wrong to sit here saying if you’re 1-0 down you’re in a better place than if you’re 1- MANCHESTER: England’s Moeen Ali bowls in the nets during Australia,” said McDermott, who himself just fell short of 0 up. “But we’ve got some really good cricketers in that team, a practice session on the day before the second Test cricket the 300 milestone, claiming 291 Test wickets during his who will be hungry to bounce back.