Shaun Udal is set to make his Test debut at the age of 36 as England and Pakistan named their squads for the first Test in Multan on Saturday. Ian Bell is set to step into the No. 3 spot left vacant by Michael Vaughan. Alastair Cook, the 20-year-old left-hander from Essex, was called up as cover for the injured Vaughan, but he is not in the 13-man party. Bell is in line to get the nod despite poor form in both the Ashes and the warm-ups.
Vaughan will stay with the team and continue to receive treatment, and his replacement Marcus Trescothick says his team are ready to overcome an unsettling lead-up to the match, having lost both a warm-up game and their usual captain.
"The boys are in good shape and are switched on," said Trescothick, who was named as England's captain after Vaughan was ruled out with a recurrence of an old knee injury. "We are up to the challenge.
"Obviously, it wasn't an ideal preparation to lose a game coming into the Test, not a situation that you want to be in, but we lost the warm-up game in South Africa last year and went on to win the series 2-1. It does give you a little bit of a wake-up call to make sure you do remain switched on and you work hard going into the Test."
Pakistan's captain Inzamam-ul Haq told the same news conference that he thought the two teams were level pegging: "Both teams start on an even keel, said Inzamam, whose side has won two of their three Tests at the venue in his hometown. "My young team has the ability to pull off a win and we would do our best to do that."
England (from) Marcus Trescothick (capt), Andrew Strauss, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Geraint Jones (wkt), Ashley Giles, Shaun Udal, Matthew Hoggard, Stephen Harmison, Matt Prior, James Anderson.
Pakistan (from) Salman Butt, Shoaib Malik, Younis Khan, Inzamam-Ul-Haq (capt), Mohammad Yousuf, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal (wkt), Naved-Ul-Hasan, Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar, Shabbir Ahmed, Mushtaq Ahmed
Shoaib Akhtar and Danish Kaneria ripped England apart with two stunning spells on the final afternoon as Pakistan surged to an outstanding innings and 100-run victory sealing a 2-0 series win. Pakistan claimed eight wickets in 69 balls after lunch, producing one of the more stunning demolitions of a batting line-up witnessed in recent times. Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood had seemingly given England hope of a draw but Pakistan have played some special cricket in this series and saved their best until the final day.
It was a breathless display of pace and spin from Pakistan's two world-class bowlers; a combination that, if they remain fit, can carry them forward to a period of sustained success. The key moment came in the first over after lunch when Kaneria switched his line of attack back to over the wicket. During the morning session he had been too quick to bowl around the wicket, which negated some of his potency, but whatever the discussions had been during the interval they produced rewards beyond Pakistan's wildest dreams.
Kaneria started with the perfect leg-break to Collingwood which was comfortably held by Hasan Raza, who also held a stinging chance off Kevin Pietersen which really set the ball rolling for Pakistan. Kaneria then opened up his box of tricks - his variations have been a constant threat to England throughout the series - and Andrew Flintoff was comprehensively beaten first ball. He has such control over his googly that it invariably pitches in just the spot that makes the batsman uncertain and Flintoff was drawn in hook, line and sinker. On another day Kaneria could have had a hat-trick as he struck Geraint Jones in front with another wicked googly. Darrell Hair said no but it was the briefest of respites.
When a batting line-up is wobbling Shoaib does not need a second invitation to crash through the defences. He may be the fastest bowler in the world but it has been the slower ball that has left the batsmen flummoxed. It takes something special to dislodge a batsman who is well set on 92 and Shoaib's slower delivery to Bell ranks up there with the deliveries of the series. His variation in pace is as significant as Kaneria's spin, leaving the batsmen guessing at what as coming next.
From 205 for 2, England had crashed to 212 for 6 and Pakistan were carrying all before them. In situations like this decisions sometimes go with the fielding side and Geraint Jones can count himself unlucky when he was sent packing despite a huge inside edge on to his pad. But that was justice for Pakistan who had been denied two very close lbw appeals in the first session when Bell and Collingwood both survived.
Once the middle order had been blown away the tail had no chance of resisting the fury of Shoaib and guile of Kaneria. Shaun Udal received a vicious blow on his left hand from the first ball he received and continued to take a peppering. Liam Plunkett's harsh education in Test cricket continued, handing Shoaib his 12th five-wicket haul in 39 Tests before Inzamam relieved his spearhead of the destruction duty.
A breathtaking afternoon was completed with exceptional efficiency when Udal and Matthew Hoggard fell in two balls. The end came so quickly that the new ball, set up to be the deciding factor as to whether Pakistan would force the win, wasn't even required. It was a performance that would have done Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis - two masters of the batting collapse - proud and the final wicket, Hoggard bamboozled by another googly, was a fitting end. It summed up the major difference between the two teams in this contest - the ability to produce something special at any moment.
The rapid end of the match made the wicketless morning session seem a lifetime ago. Bell became England's leading run-scorer in the series - not bad for a player who wasn't going to take part in the first Test - and Collingwood showed his increasing confidence at this level. But those two innings, while handing England crumbs of comfort amid the wreckage of their collapse, fade into insignificance after what followed. When the end came it was dramatic, clinical and memorable.
How they were out
England
Marcus Trescothick lbw b Shoaib 0 (0 for 1) Quick, straight, seaming in. Plumb in front
Michael Vaughan c and b Shoaib 13 (30 for 2) Completely fooled by a slower ball
Paul Collingwood c Raza b Kaneria 80 (205 for 4) Edged perfect leg-break to slip
Kevin Pietersen c Rana b Kaneria 1 (212 for 4) Forcing edge to slip
Andrew Flintoff b Kaneria 0 (212 for 5) Completely foxed by a googly
Ian Bell lbw b Shoaib 92 (212 for 6) Beaten by a slower ball, which went under the bat and struck back pad
Geriant Jones lbw b Shoaib 5 (227 for 7) Inswinger, huge inside edge
Liam Plunkett lbw b Shoaib 0 (227 for 8) Another stunning slower ball, back leg on the full
Shaun Udal c Butt b Sami 25 (248 for 9) Flashing edge to first slip
Matthew Hoggard b Kaneria 0 (248 all out) Perfect googly into middle stump
nikama
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it is andeed a great great victory.i watched the whole match today and pakistanis really stunned everyone with their performance.england has been outclassed in all deptt.of the game by inzi eleven.and the best thing abt the series win is that every player played his role in the success.we need this spirit for all times to come.well done pakistan
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Akmal ton fires Pakistan level
The Bulletin by Andrew McGlashan
December 12, 2005
Pakistan 231 for 3 (Akmal 102, Butt 43) beat England 230 (Plunkett 56, Shoaib 5-54) by seven wickets Scorecard and ball-by-ball details How they were out
Pakistan turned on the style in the second one-day international as they inflicted a thumping seven-wicket defeat on England, levelling the series with six overs to spare. Shoaib Akhtar and Kamran Akmal produced most of the sparkle as one confirmed his rejuvenation as an international force and the other confirmed his potential as one for the future. Back in the present, both were far too good for England in a match that showed how quickly fortunes can change in the limited overs game.
Akmal's second one-day century came from 108 balls, his first against West Indies was also as an opener, and followed on from Shoaib's fiery five-wicket haul which knocked the stuffing out of England. Chasing 230, Pakistan did not need to race along but Akmal was in a hurry from the start. Despite kick-starting his knock with an uppercut for six off Steve Harmison he did not take any undue risks and found few problems with any of the bowlers. He indulged in his favourite cover drive, peppering the off side with timing and placement.
Defending a well-below-par total, England knew that early wickets were their only chance and needed a repeat of Shoaib's performance which had earlier left them floundering on 130 for 8. A bowler light after subbing James Anderson with Vikram Solanki, they threw their new-ball heavyweights at the Pakistan openers. Akmal and Salman Butt responded to the challenge by setting a rapid pace, latching on to any hint of width and having the confidence in the pitch to drive through the line.
Marcus Trescothick tried to regain some control by delaying his Powerplays but, unlike the first match, the Pakistan batsmen did not need to force the pace against Ian Blackwell and Paul Collingwood. Even Flintoff's strike with the first ball of his second spell and Collingwood's well-disguised slower ball to Younis Khan did not slow the tempo. Akmal was not bothered whether the field was in or out and it was only a moment of over-confidence that brought his downfall with the job almost done - and Inzamam-ul-Haq finished it with a flourish.
The job was started, and in destructive fashion, by Shoaib on a pitch that offered more pace and carry than on Saturday. He sparked Pakistan into life, bringing out his full box of tricks in a stunning seventh over of the innings. He produced a perfect slower ball which Trescothick failed to pick and Andrew Strauss couldn't get out of the way of a searing bouncer, Akmal leaping to hold a fine, high catch.
Rana Naved-ul-Hasan then delivered the crucial over of the match, removing England's powerful middle order in the space of five balls. Firstly Pietersen, clearly in discomfort after aggravating a rib injury, swished and missed after a brief boundary flurry. Next Andrew Flintoff, after his early alarm call to receive the Sports Personality of the Year award, was given another wake-up when he was cramped for room trying to play a pull.
As England tottered, five wickets down, Shoaib returned from receiving treatment on a calf injury to produce another of his spine-tingling overs of extreme pace. His second ball back accounted for Geraint Jones, who couldn't get his gloves below a rapid, well-directed bouncer. Blackwell then had no answer to the pace in the following over as he failed to get in the same postcode as a full, fast, straight ball that sent the off stump flying.
With Shoaib reaching his blistering best a swift end to the innings was on the cards but Solanki and Liam Plunkett restored respectability with a record ninth-wicket stand of 100. They milked the spinners, as Inzamam strangely opted not to bring a quick back, but it was far from all nudge and nurdle as Plunkett launched a handsome six off Shoaib Malik while Solanki frequently flicked through midwicket. Plunkett's first international fifty confirmed his allround promise and is another tick for him on an impressive tour.
But if England thought they had been given a sniff, that notion was quickly snuffed out by another of the impressive youngsters. With the crushing nature of this win Pakistan now have the momentum in the series but, as this double-header in Lahore has shown, that can change in the blink of an eye.
Pakistan have announced that they will add Shahid Afridi to the squad for the rest of the series, but will otherwise keep the same players. Afridi is back from his suspension.
How they were out
Marcus Trescothick b Shoaib 16 (30 for 1) Slower ball clipped off stump
Andrew Strauss c Akmal b Shoaib 0 (30 for 2) Gloved a sharp bouncer
Kevin Pietersen b Naved-ul-Hasan 28 (75 for 3) Ugly heave across the line, hit off stump
Andrew Flintoff c sub (Hameed) b Naved-ul-Hasan 0 (75 for 4) Limp pull to midwicket
Matt Prior b Razzaq 32 (89 for 5) Off-cutter nipped between bat and pad
Geriant Jones c Younis b Shoaib (103 for 6) Gloved short ball to first slip
Ian Blackwell b Shoaib 10 (120 for 7) Squared-up, beaten for pace
Paul Collingwood c and b Kaneria 23 (130 for 8) Flat-batted pull against a long hop
Liam Plunkett c and b Shoaib 56 (230 for 9) Skied a slog against slower-ball
Steve Harmison run out (Younis) 0 (230 all out) Direct hit from cover
Pakistan
Salman Butt b Flintoff 43 (86 for 1) Lack of footwork, played down the wrong line
Younis Khan b Collingwood 15 (113 for 2) Deceived by a slower ball, hit off stump
Kamran Akmal c Solanki b Harmison 102 (187 for 3) Pulled to midwicket
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Pakistan surge to crushing 165-run win
The Bulletin by Jenny Thompson
December 15, 2005
Pakistan 353 for 6 (Akmal 109, Yousuf 68, Inzamam 45, Razzaq 51*) beat England 188 (Bell 37*, Shoaib Malik 3-29) by 165 runs Scorecard and ball-by-ball details How they were out
Pakistan completed a crushing 165-run victory over England to take a 2-1 lead in the series. The result equals England's heaviest defeat in ODIs and leaves them with a mountain to climb in the final two matches. The batting subsided in a mass of poor shots with Ian Bell, the Supersub, making a forlorn 37 at the death. However, the batsmen were always on a hiding to nothing after the bowlers were smashed to all parts.
Full report to follow
25.2 overs England 122 for 6 trail Pakistan 353 for 6 (Akmal 109, Yousuf 68, Inzamam 45, Razzaq 51*) by 306 runs
Pakistan grabbed a stranglehold on this match to sink England further into the mire. Just after the halfway point of their reply, England were 122 for 6 and flailing 231 runs behind Pakistan. They need a wildly unlikely nine-and-a-half an over for victory.
England lost three early wickets before Mohammad Sami's wicket maiden sent Andrew Strauss to join his chastened team-mates in the shed. Andrew Flintoff followed for 36, bowled by Yasir Arafat and Paul Collingwood holed out for 19 as Shoaib Malik joined in the party, striking in his first over.
The visitors are in disarray and it could be early showers all round, although Duncan Fletcher may well just be turning on the cold taps. Pakistan, meanwhile, are preparing to celebrate a thoroughly deserved 2-1 series lead.
10 overs England 47 for 3 (Strauss 6*, Flintoff 5*) trail Pakistan 353 for 6 (Akmal 109, Yousuf 68, Inzamam 45, Razzaq 51*) by 306 runs
England made a woeful start to their huge run-chase, slumping to 47 for 3 with just ten overs gone. The required run-rate of seven an over crept up from the very beginning as Marcus Trescothick played out a maiden from the first over. And things didn't get much better from there.
He patted down a Shoaib Akhtar delivery and turned down a single with Matt Prior, who couldn't make his ground as the bowler threw down the stumps. Trescothick fell shortly after, the first of two quick wickets for Rana Naved. Vikram Solanki was the other; he also edged out.
With no Kevin Pietersen and an ever-spiralling run-rate, England are firmly up against it. They will require nothing short of a miracle to pull anything off, here. Already it seems to be a case of how much they will be beaten by, rather than an if.
50 overs Pakistan 353 for 6 (Akmal 109, Yousuf 68, Inzamam 45, Razzaq 51*) v England
Kamran Akmal smacked his second successive century to blast Pakistan to an imposing total in the third one-dayer at Karachi. They made a mountainous 353 for 6, with Mohammad Yousuf battering his way to fifty and Abdul Razzaq clattering an unbeaten 51 from 22 balls to set England a worryingly high run-chase. It's one that they will have to make without their big-hitting superstar Kevin Pietersen.
No such worries for Pakistan who continue to show they are a force to be reckoned with in one-dayers, with Akmal and Yousuf sharing a stand of 104 for the third wicket, then Razzaq and Inzamam-ul-Haq adding 78 in just 40 balls. And they may just have resolved their opening duo conundrum finally, too, with Akmal and Butt putting on another decent stand - this time, 74. In this series they now average more than 50 per innings for the first wicket. That will do.
What won't do is England's bowling performance. Again they were under par, again they were punished accordingly. A woeful display it may have been, replete with wide after wide, but credit must be given to Pakistan's batsmen who capitalized on the loose stuff and improvised off the good balls to punch their way past the 350-mark.
Akmal was in particularly fine touch, batting out of his crease as early as the eighth over, and dispatching all that came near him with a series of strong shots off both the front and the back foot. As Akmal charged on his own merry way to another century - which included a let-off from Paul Collingwood with a caught-and-bowled chance on 69 - Mohammad Yousuf joined in the fun, twice hitting Plunkett for two fours behind the wicket early doors.
Shahid Afridi, on his return from suspension, chipped in with a cameo of 31. Before this match he had announced he was chomping at the bit and he did not disappoint as he launched a series of impressive boundaries, including some typically booming sixes. But he was cut down in his prime after a mix-up with his partner, Yousuf, who set off without calling after dinking a cut to gully which Collingwood fumbled but recovered. Geraint Jones shattered the stumps with a decisive one-hand swoosh and Afridi was well short.
Yousuf was then responsible for his own downfall when, on 68, a similar shot led to a similar outcome, only this time Collingwood found the stumps on his own. England were sharp in the field all the while but Trescothick, who took the Powerplay immediately, was left to regret his decision to field - because the assault was set to continue.
Razzaq applied further salt, rubbing it in during a painful Plunkett over which read: one, dot, four, four, four, six. And that was just the start of it. At the other end Inzamam eased his way to 45 from just 35 deliveries.
In the opening exchanges, Pakistan were troubled only by the double loss of Butt and Younis Khan, who both fell to Plunkett in quick time. Plunkett's slower delivery foxed Butt into a light chip to midwicket, then Khan swiped a wideish delivery for a second-ball duck.
But otherwise, England's best-laid plans were turned to dust in the face of onslaughts from Akmal and Yousuf, the anchor to the others' dashing blades. They tried the short ball but with little effect as Pakistan's batsmen exploded out of the blocks ... and then kept on exploding with a joyous display of powerful clean hitting.
How they were out
Pakistan
Salman Butt c Flintoff b Plunkett 29 (74 for 1) Attempted whip through mid-wicket; deceived by slower ball
Younis Khan c Jones b Plunkett 0 (84 for 2) Thick edge off wide-ish one
Kamran Akmal c b 109 (188 for 3) Miscue sent high to mid-wicket
Shahid Afridi run out (Collingwood/Jones) 31 (234 for 4) Mix-up with Yousuf, shy in from gully, bails whipped off
Mohammad Yousuf run out (Collingwood) 68 (272 for 5) Dink to gully, direct hit finds him well out
Inzamam-ul-Haq b Flintoff 45 (350 for 6) Cleaned up by yorker
England
Matt Prior run out (Ahktar) 2 (22 for 1) Sent back to non-striker's end, direct hit
Marcus Trescothick c Inzamam-ul-Haq b Naved (40 for 2) Played away from his body, thick edge to first slip
Vikram Solanki c Khan b Naved (40 for 3) Big outswinger outside off stump, edge to third slip
Andrew Strauss lbw b Sami 23 (79 for 4) Plumb, trapped low
Andrew Flintoff b Yasir Arafat 36 (101 for 5) Leg-stump yorker, tried to make room
Paul Collingwood c Butt b Malik 19 (22 for 6) Holed out at mid-wicket
22 par 51
