Finn to win bowling battle
After contrasting series in both the Test and 50-overs formats of the game, England and Pakistan resume their rivalry on Thursday in Dubai for the first of three Twenty20 internationals (Pakistan evens, England 4/5).
Having been whitewashed 3-0 in the Test series, England bounced back in superb style by beating Misbah-Ul-Haq’s side 4-0 in the one-dayers, leaving plenty of questions unanswered about both sides heading into what will undoubtedly be an exciting set of T20 fixtures featuring the current world champions and their predecessors.
Despite the inconsistent nature of their team’s recent performances, England’s bowlers have been brilliant throughout the series in the UAE and of their expected line-up, Steven Finn (11/4 to be England’s top bowler) is undoubtedly the most exciting prospect going into the match.
The Middlesex man was left out of the Test side, despite being the standout bowler during the tour to India before Christmas, and has regularly stated his desire to earn a recall for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka in March.
Finn has been in terrific form during the 50-overs matches, taking 13 wickets for just 134 runs in the four matches, and was undoubtedly the pick of Alastair Cook’s bowlers. He is likely to open the bowling alongside T20 captain Stuart Broad in a partnership that would strike fear into any nation’s batting line-ups.
Look out for him to make a big impact on the game and enhance his chances of making the trip to Sri Lanka.
Despite their recent flop in the one-dayers, Pakistan are a quality team and will see Thursday as the perfect opportunity to get back on track. They’re also experts at the shortest form of the game, having won the 2009 World Cup, and some of their players look as if they were born to play Twenty20 cricket.
Shahid Afridi is likely to lead the batting and is undoubtedly their star but bowler Umar Gul (4/1 to be Pakistan’s top bowler) could be the man who leads them to success. Gul shot to prominence in that 2009 victory and hasn’t looked back since, establishing himself as one of his side’s most potent weapons.
It’s the 27-year-old’s ability to bowl out teams at the end of an innings, especially with his trademark yorker that sets him apart from other pacemen, and like Finn for England he’ll be looking to make a big impact on his opponent’s rearguard.
Gul’s ability could prove vital but England should win the match thanks to their impressive recent form, especially with the likes of big-hitting Craig Kieswetter and Jonny Bairstow in their batting line-up.
