A four-match series should provide England and Pakistan with ample opportunities to firm up their selections and strategies ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup.
England, who defeated Pakistan in the final two years ago to hold world titles in both white-ball formats, could be a touch underdone in terms of preparation after focusing solely on Test cricket so far this year.
But never let that be said about the Men in Green, who have played 12 T20 internationals
since England last lifted a bat in the format and arrive at Headingley, the venue for the first match, fresh from securing a 2-1 series win over Ireland.
- BACK A DRAWN SERIES
England Set To Chop And Change
The structure and timing of the series - four matches packed into eight days at venues in Leeds, Birmingham, Cardiff and London (The Oval) - should ensure the teams make plenty of changes as they seek a winning formula.
England are without the services of Ben Stokes, whose gritty half-century guided the Three Lions to their five-wicket win over Pakistan in the Melbourne final, after he asked not to be considered for the upcoming tournament.
Jofra Archer returns to bolster the hosts’ pace attack after more than a year out because of an elbow injury, while Tom Hartley, who impressed with the red ball in India earlier this year, has been added as a fifth spinner for captain Jos Buttler to use.
The tall Lancastrian has a solid record in his domestic T20 career, averaging 26.5 in his 82 games with an economy rate of 8.5, so he could be a very useful option.
His Lightning team-mate Buttler lit up the Indian Premier League last month with two unbeaten centuries in the space of 10 days.
But the skipper’s form tailed off as he averaged just over 13.3 across his last three innings for the Rajasthan Royals with a top score of 21.
Buttler is also expected to miss a couple of the games in this series for family reasons, so it may be best to look elsewhere for the identity of England’s top batter.
It may be the right time for Phil Salt to step out of Buttler’s shadow.
The right-handed opener was the top English batter at the 2024 IPL, accumulating 439 runs at 39.5 with 24 sixes in 12 games for Kolkata Knight Riders.
The 27-year-old was at his savage best when last seen in England colours too, smashing a series-best 331 runs at an average of 82.75 and a strike rate of 186 against the West Indies in December.
Pakistan Back On An Even Keel
While England have played just those five T20 internationals in the Caribbean since beating Pakistan in Melbourne last November, the Green Shirts have been far more active in the format.
Babar Azam stepped down from his leadership role earlier this year, but after replacement Shaheen Afridi struggled in a 4-1 series defeat in New Zealand, he was re-appointed as white-ball captain.
In a much more competitive home series against the Black Caps in the spring, Babar top scored with 69 off 44 balls in the decider to level it up at 2-2.
The elegant stroke maker remains the key cog in what now appears a settled Pakistan line-up after a period of upheaval on the coaching side.
Pakistan sacked head coach Grant Bradburn, team director Mickey Arthur and batting coach Andrew Puttick after they lost five of their nine games at last year’s 50-over World Cup.
Bowling coach Morne Morkel quit in advance of that announcement and Mohammed Hafeez’s stint as the country’s cricketing supremo was cut short in February.
Azhar Mahmood served as head coach for the home series against the Kiwis, but he has since been replaced by Gary Kirsten, who will have one match in charge before they hit the deadline for naming the 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup.
Despite the usual craziness off the field, Pakistan have a nice mix of rising talent and experienced heads around at the moment.
Exciting opener Saim Ayub has benefitted from coming in alongside Mohammed Rizwan at the top of the order, with Babar returning his preferred position of three ahead of big-hitters Azam Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed.
There is plenty of pace and nous in the seam attack thanks to Haris Rauf’s return to fitness and Afridi’s continuing availability, but the frontline slow-bowling department is lacking with the Men in Green relying on spinning all-rounders to make up the overs.
A Series Stalemate On The Cards
As for this series, it is worth noting that Pakistan’s record in England has not been great recently, as the Green Shirts went down 2-1 on their last visit to these shores in 2021.
The previous series was drawn 1-1, while England won a standalone match at the back end of the 2019 summer in fairly convincing style.
England also managed to come back from 3-2 down to win in Pakistan when the two sides faced off in an epic seven-match series two years ago.
The closeness of that contest, together with the fact that there are four matches in this series, should enhance the prospects of it finishing all square.
Buttler’s side have been nowhere near as consistent on home turf as predecessor Eoin Morgan’s team were and questions about the captain’s leadership intensified after the 50-over World Cup.
Vice-captain Moeen Ali will lead the team for one or two games in this series and his record as skipper is currently a losing one.
Some of the England batters may also be slightly underdone in terms of time in the middle, although that counts for less in this format.
But England have enough depth and a much greater array of spin options with which to tie their opponents down in what should be a hugely competitive series.
