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Misbah wants Pakistan to pull down England ‘pillars’
BIRMINGHAM: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq believes knocking down England “pillars” Alastair Cook and Joe Root holds the key to his side’s hopes of winning the third
BIRMINGHAM: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq believes knocking down England “pillars” Alastair Cook and Joe Root holds the key to his side’s hopes of winning the third Test at Edgbaston.
England levelled the four-match series at 1-1 last time out at Old Trafford.
Between them, England captain Cook and vice-captain Root made 506 runs for just twice out at Old Trafford in a second Test the hosts won by the huge margin of 330 runs.
But you have to go back to May 2015 for the last time another specialist England batsman made a Test hundred — discarded opener Adam Lyth’s 107 against New Zealand at Headingley.
“In every team there are key players and at the moment those two are in really good form,” said Misbah of Cook and Root at Edgbaston on Tuesday.
“If you really have to put pressure on the opposition, it’s important to get their main players out because those are the two pillars of their batting.
“Psychologically, that can also give you an advantage and damage the opposition if you can get them early, because other (members of the England) batting line-up are struggling at the moment.
“That’s really important for us to just get them (Cook and Root) early and put them (England) under pressure.”
James Vince has yet to make a fifty in his seven career Test innings this season and left-hander Gary Ballance is also searching for a big score following his surprise recall for Pakistan’s 75-run win in the series opener at Lord’s.
“Throughout my time as captain there’s always been something up for discussion and at the moment it’s the middle order,” said Cook.
“Until the guys get good scores consistently that will be the case but they’re very good players and they got picked because of outstanding form for their counties.”
