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England Consider Surprise Call Up For Second Test

England Consider Surprise Call Up For Second Test

Can England comeback to win the series?

Anonymous

Anonymous

From stupid shot selection to some sloppy bowling and the odd dropped catch things were far from perfect for England as they lost the first Test in the four match series against Pakistan. There could be some big changes to the side in the second test.

The final flurry on England wickets that finished the resistance and handed Pakistan a 75 run victory at Lord's handed players of both sides an extra day off ahead of the second Test at Old Trafford starting on Friday. There's not long to try and work out how to play Yasir Shah between now and then but England may make a spinning change of their own.

James Anderson and Ben Stokes are expected to make their comebacks from injury, especially having played against each other in a County Championship match for Lancashire and Durham, but the ECB may add spinner Adil Rashid to an extended squad to give them the option of a second spinner.

Anderson and Stokes are likely to come into the squad for Toby Roland Jones and one of Steven Finn and Jake Ball however the selectors could make it a 13 man squad with Rashid included as well as a second spin option with Old Trafford likely to turn and the use of Shah for the visitors showing the need of a strong front line spinner.

Despite becoming an in integral member of the ODI and T20 squads Rashid has struggled with control in the longer form. If the selectors, along with Alastair Cook and Trevor Bayliss, did want to include the Yorkshire leg spinner in the match-day team they would likely have to replace James Vince or Gary Ballance in the order.

Moeen Ali finished with figures of 0-46 and 2-49 in the match but the stroke he played against Shah in the second innings to get out was heavily criticised.

England really need a more consistent front line spinner, it remains to be seen whether Rashid is that man.

(Via Evening Standard)

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Topics: Cricket, England