England ready to target Pakistan’s inexperience: Strauss

NOTTINGHAM: England will be targeting Pakistan’s fragile and inexperienced batting line-up, according to their captain Andrew Strauss, as the two teams go head-to-head in the series-opener in Nottingham.

Despite a composed performance against Australia in the two-match series, the Pakistani youngsters may find England’s seam bowlers a different, and much better, opposition on home turf and that, said Strauss, is Pakistan’s weak spot the home side will try and exploit.

“Pakistan have batted in bowler-friendly conditions against Australia but it’s a pretty young batting line-up no doubt and if there’s inexperience in these conditions, we need to exploit that,” said Strauss.

England, who have called up Tim Bresnan in place of the injured Ajmal Shehzad, come into the series fresh following a layoff after beating Australia 3-2 in a One-Day International series while Pakistan have been on the field since June 27. The rest, according to the England captain, and the tough series ahead, will work in the home side’s favour.

“They’re more used to the conditions than they would be if this was the first Test of the series but at the same time it’s a hard schedule with six Test matches in such a short time. What’s most important is that we come out and hit the ground running and not start this Test match slowly.”

Strauss also shrugged off concerns regarding Kevin Pietersen’s lack of match practice going into the first Test. Pietersen’s request to participate in Hampshire’s match was snubbed by the county officials as the England batsman has decided to move away from Hampshire next season.

“I’m not concerned about Pietersen’s lack of cricket. He’s a guy who spends a lot of time in the nets practising and for someone like him being in the right state of mind mentally is as important as anything. He’s in a good state of mind, he has had a good rest and I think he wants to come out and prove himself again this series.”

The England captain also lauded the presence of former Pakistan leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed in the coaching staff and hoped that England’s spin bowling coach can provide insight into the Pakistan side and the mentality the opposition will be bringing into the match.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 29^th, 2010.