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| July 27, 2006 | Thursday | Jumadi-ul-Sani 30, 1427 |
Method and madness blend perfectly at Old Trafford
MANCHESTER, July 26: Pakistan and England will today embark on thirteen days of mayhem. With back to back Tests at Old Trafford and then Headingley the series could be over quicker than it took to get going.
Pakistan, according to the Woolmer doctrine, will be taking each match, each day, each session, and even each ball as it comes — an approach that also feels natural to Pakistan's implacable captain Inzamam-ul-Haq.
If the Lord's Test was a phoney war, Old Trafford and Headingley promise to be wars minus the shooting, not least because Pakistan can expect massive and passionate support at both venues.
While nobody would want a return of the pitch invasions that marred Pakistan's last tour of England, the same — but controlled — passion is expected from Pakistan supporters.
Fifty years ago England off-spinner Jim Laker created a legend at Old Trafford with a world record 19 wickets in a match. Old Trafford was also the scene of Shane Warne's outrageous leg-break that clean bowled Mike Gatting.
England's media hailed that delivery as the ball of the century, conveniently forgetting all the outrageous deliveries that Abdul Qadir had bowled for over a decade.
Spin might be a factor again at Old Trafford this year. The groundsman has promised a pitch that will break up in the second half of the match. To support this brave assertion he has boldly gone where few groundsmen have before and advised Pakistan to pick Mushtaq Ahmed.
In this view, he appears to be in agreement with Pakistan's team manager Zaheer Abbas, the Asian Bradman. Mushtaq, though, is highly unlikely to feature.
The groundsman has also hinted that the pitch will have pace and bounce early on although Woolmer's view is that it might not have as much pace as people expect.
Old Trafford, then, looks ideally suited to Pakistan's vintage formula of high speed and late swing through the air and quality spin.
Waqar Younis and Saqlain Mushtaq were a perfect example of this combination when Pakistan stole the match here five years ago to level the series.
Pakistan's problem this time around is that they don't have a fearsome fast bowler and England's pace bowlers will be licking their lips at the prospect of a bouncy track.
Nonetheless, the pitch should be of equal benefit to Pakistan's opening attack, provided that they can show more aggression, self-belief, and focus than they did at Lord's,
The tourists prepare for steepling bounce from Steve Harmison and Sajid Mahmood by using one of Javed Miandad's methods of preparation.
A slab of marble is carried to each net session, placed on a length, and balls thrown at it to rise viscously at the body and face of the batsman.
Woolmer, famous for high-tech innovation with laptops and earpieces, has embraced a rudimentary Pakistani technology. The Times described this as Pakistan's secret weapon.
The visitors may lack penetration without Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif, and Rana Naved ul-Hasan, but the team does still have a balanced look to it thanks to its three all-rounders — possibly four if you count Imran Farhat who looks set to be selected.
Pakistan's only real selection dilemma appears to be whether to drop Salman Butt or Faisal Iqbal for Younis Khan, who is certain to return.
England, by contrast, are struggling to find the right balance. Without Andrew Flintoff their tail was too long at Lord's and their bowling insufficiently deep to dismiss Pakistan twice. They may still go into this match unchanged other than Sajid Mahmood.
They will, however, require a change in their attitude. Andrew Strauss, England's captain for the series, has been heavily criticised by the English media for his negative declaration at Lord's.
Pakistan, despite their casualties, begin this back to back examination in confident mood, and England, because of their casualties, look like the team in need of a cunning plan — or a plan of any sort.
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