Pakistan vs England 2016: Mohammad Aamer vs Alastair Cook and other key clashes

With almost near-perfect preparations for Pakistan, hosts England will certainly have a real challenge on their hands when they meet them at Lord's.

In few hours England and Pakistan  will lock horns against each other for the first Test at Lord’s. It is finally time for cricket to take center stage and decide which is the better team in the longer version of the game. Not surprisingly, Mohammad Aamer finds himself at the heart of all the debates as he gets ready to return to the same venue where it all turned ugly for Pakistan cricket and for the 24-year-old. Although, the Test series, as correctly pointed out by, Test skipper, Misbah-Ul-Haq, is not just about him. With almost near-perfect preparations for the visitors, the hosts England will certainly have a real challenge on their hands. And with that in mind, let’s analyse what key battles could decide the fate of the game at Lord’s. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: England vs Pakistan 2016, 1st Test at Lord’s

Mohammad Aamer vs Alastair Cook: With all the talking over, it is time for getting ready to see who, among the two, performs better for their respective sides when the first Test gets underway at Lord’s. Cook’s comment where he mentioned that Aamer will have to deal with the hostile reception at Lord’s was perhaps a fine move by the England skipper to hamper young Aamer’s confidence and add pressure on him. Cook, in his mind, probably knows he does not have a good record playing against Aamer. The left-armer has troubled him and taken his wicket on occasions. This contest therefore, stands out as a must-watch one. READ: Pakistan vs England 2016: Why Mohammad Aamer can rip the hosts apart

Wahab Riaz vs Joe Root: Another heated battle could well be between Pakistan’s left-arm pacer Wahab Riaz and one of England’s finest batsman, Joe Root. Root did not have the kind of Test series he would have wanted against Sri Lanka but he was quick to call Riaz’s comments as ‘trash talk’. Riaz did not keep quiet either. He replied by saying, “Joe Root is the backbone of the England team and getting him out early will put the pressure on England. If he thinks it is just trash talk then hats off to him.” Well, it almost looks like these two have begun their battle before hand only and when they face each other on the field, it will be a mouth watering contest.   Pakistan vs England 2016, 1st Test at Lord’s Preview & Predictions

Yasir Shah vs Jonny Bairstow: The 30-year old had a good outing against Somerset in the 3-Day practice game. He not only bowled plenty of overs, he picked up 2 wickets in Somerset’s first innings and then 4 in the 2nd innings. With 76 wickets in 12 Tests for Pakistan, Yasir Shah is set to lead their spin attack in the Test series. Jonny Bairstow meanwhile, could have a tough time against him. The Englishman scored two centuries against Sri Lanka in the three-Test series and was easily England’s best batsman then. Nonetheless, against Pakistan, he will not find things that easy though.

Stuart Broad vs Younis Khan: England’s most experienced bowler Stuart Broad, in James Anderson’s absence will have to lead the pace attack for his team. Broad’s swing and pace along with his consistent line and length can be a real worry for Pakistan’s batting line up. He will have to step up to the task of taking wickets as he has always done. Younis Khan will be his counterpart. The veteran Pakistani batsman has immense experience and backs himself in the longer format too. He is patient, plays grounded strokes, takes zero risks and likes to spend time at the crease. He has the potential to hold the innings together if wickets are falling from the other end. His century against Somerset in the first practice game was an indication of what could be in store for this grueling series.

Moeen Ali vs Azhar Ali: Call it the battle of the Ali’s, but it will also be among the ones to watch out for. Azhar Ali has been in prime form heading into the Test series. He scored a century in both the practice games prior to the series, against Somerset and Sussex respectively. His performance will be crucial for Pakistan if they aim to grab a series win on away soil. Moeen Ali meanwhile, with his off-breaks has a knack of picking up wickets and breaking partnerships. He can chip in when Cook decides to give a bit of rest to his pacers. More importantly, he has bowled a few rippers in the past which can trap batsman in front and get them bowled as well.

(Karan Dewan, a reporter with CricketCountry, loves following and playing sports. He is a Team India fan and loves winning. Follow him on his twitter handle @karan13dewan)

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