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Following Story was posted prior to the beginning of first Test match between Pakistan and England at Lord’s on May 24, 2018.
Pakistan will take on England in the first Test of the two-match series beginning on Thursday at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.
In Test arena, both the teams are struggling a bit as if Pakistan’s outdated approach to Test Cricket is causing them yield worrisome results, England’s recent performance in the longest format of the game isn’t worth admiring either.
In their last five Test matches, England lost three of them while two ended in draw. England lost to Australia in The Ashes by 0-4 and then suffered a defeat in New Zealand.
Whereas Pakistan – in their last five Tests – lost three matches and secured victories in two including the last Test against debutant Ireland. Except Ireland and West Indies series win, Pakistan had to face whitewash series loss against Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand in recent time.
The previous bilateral Test series held in July-August 2016 between Pakistan and England – consisting of four Tests – produced equal results for both the teams as they won two matches each. The very Test match of that series was also played at Lords, and which was won by Pakistan by 75 runs.
Remembering the historic celebrations at the @HomeOfCricket in 2016 when @TheRealPCB beat @englandcricket by 75 runs to go 1-0 in the series. Time to support #TeamGreen come on @SarfarazA_54 🇵🇰 #PakvEng – pictures courtesy @ICC pic.twitter.com/Unoi95Hoap
— PTV Sports (@PTVSp0rts) May 24, 2018
For the first Test, Muhammad Amir’s inclusion has been confirmed by Pakistan Cricket Team Coach Mickey Arthur, saying he would play despite a knee injury.
Pakistan Squad for first Test:
Azhar Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed (Captain & Wicket Keeper), Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Muhammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Muhammad Abbas
England Squad for first Test:
Alastair Cook, Mark Stoneman, Joe Root (Captain), Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow (Wicket Keeper), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Mark Wood, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, James Anderson
The second Test between Pakistan and England will be played at Headingley Stadium in Leeds from June 1-5.