England name same squad for Pakistan Test

LONDON: England named the same eleven that had put them 2-0 up in their four-match series against Pakistan for the third Test starting at The Oval on Wednesday.

Tim Bresnan, left out from a 12-man squad in the sides that won the first Test at Trent Bridge by 354 runs and the second Test by nine wickets at Edgbaston last week, was retained as bowling cover.

The seamer will play for Yorkshire in their Championship clash against champions Durham starting at Chester-le-Street today.

He will join the England team on Tuesday before returning to play for Yorkshire on Wednesday, provided he is not required for Test duty.

This is England’s last Test series before they begin the defence of the Ashes in Australia starting in November and national selector Geoff Miller said, “We were delighted with the way the team performed at Edgbaston in the second Test.

“To put together dominant performances in back-to-back Test matches is a credit to the team’s hard work, but the key remains consistency throughout the duration of the series.”

Meanwhile, Pakistan suffered a setback when it was announced that wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider who made 80 on Test debut at Edgbaston, was doubtful for The Oval after suffering a finger injury.

But the third Test should see the return to the side of former captain and senior batsman Mohammad Yousuf, who made an unbeaten 40 against Worcestershire.

He was recalled ahead of the defeat at Edgbaston but was not selected after only arriving in England the day before the match. The England team includes, Andrew Strauss (captain), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior (wicket-keeper), Graeme Swann, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Steven Finn.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 16^th, 2010.