England could skid on UAE pitches

Visitors had a harrowing experience when they last visited Pakistan's 'home away from home' in the 2012 series

England have arrived in the UAE, almost unnoticed, on the back of Ashes victory but Alistair Cook's men will have to be a bit wary of Pakistan putting skids on their plans on the desert pitches during their two-month-long tour that features three Tests.
England had a harrowing experience when they last visited Pakistan's 'home away from home'. Memories of the 3-0 defeat must be still rankling at least five members of that 2012 team, who are still part of the team for the series in the UAE.
These days, teams come well prepared with video analyses of opposition as well as how wickets would behave. But, not necessarily these studies always work, but it may help to an extent to assess the rival's strength.
The England think tank team must have watched how Misbah-ul-Haq's boys floored Australia 2-0 around the same time last year. However, weather could be slightly warmer from what it appears so far. And heat is another issue that England will have to tackle. The 2012 series had a unique record of 43 lbw decisions in three Tests with England accounting for 22.
Most importantly, the England team will have to be wary of the UAE pitches, especially at Shaikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah Cricket Stadium, where the ball could skid more than turn.
The former Australian captain Michael Clarke had admitted last year that most Aussie batsmen got out to balls that didn't turn during the series against Pakistan.
England have come on the tour with three spinning options, expecting turning tracks in the UAE like in the Asian subcontinent. However, their seaming option - Stuart Broad and James Anderson - may walk away with more wickets in the series after a terrific show in the Ashes.
Pakistan had depended heavily on off spinner Saeed Ajmal and left-arm spinner Abdul Rahman to demolish England in 2012 but both are history as far as Misbah's team is concerned. At the same time, they have found another formidable combination that troubled the strong Aussie batting in the two-match series last year. Yasir Shah, who made his Test debut at 28 in that series, had scripted the Pakistan victory and since then he has come a long way, becoming the fastest Pakistan bowler to capture fifty Test wickets. A tweet from his idol Shane Warne in that series proved like an energy drink for Yasir. Since then he hasn't looked back and could be handful for the English batsmen along with left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar.
The three-Test Series, starting from October 13, could also be the last, at least in the UAE, for Misbah unless of course India agrees to come here in December to play Pakistan.
The Pakistan captain along with Younis Khan, who had struck a purple patch last year against Australia here, are strong pillars of the Pakistan team that England may find it difficult to shake.
England may have come here thinking about spinning challenge but the skidding test may prove tough to tackle.
sunilvaidya@khaleejtimes.com 

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