Confident Poms face erratic Pakistan in first ODI

After colliding against each other in the longest format of the match, shortest version of the game, it’s time for the sub-continent team to lock horns with the Brits in the 50-over format starting at Chester-le-Street on Friday.

The English side will be pretty high on confidence following a 3-1 Test series win and a 2-0 triumph in the T20I. Paul Collingwood will be relinquished from the captaincy role and Andrew Strauss will once again take the charge of the team oozing with exuberance. England have bowled fantastically well throughout the summer and have been a class apart, especially, James Anderson and Graeme Swann, who shared 45 wickets between them in the recently concluded Test series. The latter orchestrated a brilliant spell of spin bowling in the T20Is as well along with Michael Yardy. The batting looked a bit circumspect in the last couple of matches but the return of Strauss and Trott would provide much needed strength to it. All in all the team looks strong and settled and will be a tough nut to crack in their own den. 

Well, couple of humiliating losses in the last two games following the Spot-fixing allegations would certainly have been the last thing the Asian team have wished for. Their performance on this long tour to England has been inconsistent and also deteriorated as the tour has progressed. The two heroes from this tour, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif have now suddenly turned into villains which has further worsened their condition. Pakistan team now requires a leader who can re-ignite self-confidence in them and back them to perform well and who better than skipper Shahid Afridi, who has the panache and charisma in him to take them out of the black hole. The team has a perfect blend of youth and experience in the side with talented young players like Shahzaib Hasan, Fawad Alam, Azhar Ali and veteran Mohammad Yousuf and Abdul Razzaq in the ranks. The bowling department will be spearheaded by Rawalpindi Express, Shoaib Akhtar, along with Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal. Pakistan have to collectively put in an effort to thump the mighty English side and for that the seniors in the team have to share the added responsibility. 

The conditions are expected to be overcast but fortunately there are no forecast for rain. England lead the head to head battle 35-26 in this format. Nevertheless, an exciting encounter is scheduled to take place and the Britishers might edge out the visitors due to the winning momentum on their side.