England levelled up the Test series with Pakistan at 1-1 with a comprehensive win at Old Trafford last week so everything is on the line when the sides meet in the third game at Edgbaston which begins on Wednesday.
Both teams go into the match knowing the winners will be assured of a share of the series with one match to play while the losers will no longer be able to win the series. On what is usually a good cricket wicket we are set for a fascinating Test match.
England
It was an important Test for England to win at Old Trafford but they made full use of it and perhaps the biggest thing for them was that two of their top three got runs. This batting line up hasn’t been putting up the huge runs they would like at the top of their order for a while so to have two players in Alastair Cook and Joe Root find their feet will be very encouraging.
The other encouraging thing was the return of Jimmy Anderson. He may only have taken four wickets in the match but it is the leadership he gives the attack which is important and the control he has with the new ball has the Pakistan batting line up under pressure from the start and we know this isn’t a side who bat well under pressure.
Pakistan
It was a match to forget for Pakistan at Old Trafford. They let England get away from them on the opening day and never looked like having the ability to rein them back in. They will want to prove they can play under pressure but you would have to say their chances of winning are larger if they win the toss and stick a score on the board.
Yasir Shah was lethal at Lord’s but England stunted his impact at Old Trafford and how they play him in this match will go a long way to determining the outcome of this game. Misbah will be hoping his seam attack can come to the party on what can be a lively wicket.
Team News
England are forced into a change for this match with Ben Stokes going down injured in Manchester. On the eve of the game Alastair Cook confirmed that it would be Steven Finn who replaces him in the side.
Pakistan are expected to make a chance to their opening partnership with Shan Masood getting out to Jimmy Anderson one too many times for their liking. Sami Aslam is likely to replace him. They are talking about a change to their bowling attack but that is unlikely.
Edgbaston
There have been 48 previous Test matches on this ground. This is a real fortress for England with them having 25 wins to eight defeats and 15 draws. Pakistan won’t want to be reminded that they haven’t won any of their seven Test matches on this ground.
The wicket here is often lively and can suit the seamers and rarely do we get a five day game because of the track. This is the scene of some of the most famous moments in cricket not least that amazing Ashes Test in 2005.
Only one first innings score over 400 has been posted since that famous Test and that needed a last wicket stand of 143 to boost a score from 283-9 to 426 all out so this isn’t a high scoring ground first up. If Pakistan win the toss it will be interesting to see what they elect to do.
Betting
I always find Edgbaston Test matches interesting betting propositions but they are not ones I can bet on the outcome of too often without knowing which way the toss goes. It will be interesting to see what the winner of the toss does as if there is a ground you would win the toss and bowl on it could well be this one.
I’m leaving the match betting alone prior to the match but I am getting involved in a couple of other bets. The first is sticking to something that was good to us in the previous match which is the performance of Chris Woakes.
His line is at 121.5 which looks a little on the low side to me. So far in this series he has totalled scores of 278 and 208 and now he gets to play on his home ground on a wicket he will be comfortable on with the bat in his hand or the ball.
With Ben Stokes’ injury he is going to go up a spot in the batting line up so he’ll bat at eight and he’ll bowl plenty of overs so I expect this line to be covered. Just a quiet match of two wickets in each innings and 21 runs in both innings has this covered but I expect him to be a lot more involved than that. This line looks very low with his performances so far being in the 200s so I’m on the overs here.
I’ll also chance a Pakistan top batsman and the way Wahab Riaz played in the previous match caught my eye. I’ve already mentioned low first innings scores are regular on this ground and it could be that someone down the innings slapping a few wild shots away is the way to go. If England bowl first I wouldn’t be surprised if Pakistan get into early trouble.
We know Wahab will only bat one way but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. He’ll either come off and go close or he’ll be out quickly but either way it is worth paying to see how he goes at 100/1.
Tips
WON – Back C.Woakes’ Performance – Over 121.5pts for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
Back it here:
VOID – Back W.Riaz Top Pakistan Batsman for a 1/10 stake at 101.00 with Ladbrokes
Back him here:
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