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Gul said an unbeaten run has lifted the Pakistan team, who will start the first of three Tests, starting here from Tuesday, with extra confidence. —File photo by AFP
DUBAI: Pakistan pace spearhead Umar Gul Thursday showed readiness for the strong challenge that world number one Test team England pose in the three-Test series starting here next week.
The 27-year-old paceman, now leading the attack after Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were banned in the 2010 spot-fixing case, said he and fellow players will be at their best against the top team.
“No doubt England is a very good team and they are number one in Tests,” said Gul of England who rose to number one in August last year.
“We are also playing good cricket and are ready for any challenge they pose.”
Gul led Pakistan’s attack during their 1-1 drawn series against the West Indies, then wins over Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in a run which saw the team remain unbeaten in a Test series.
Pakistan’s last Test series loss was against England on the 2010 tour which was marred by spot-fixing scandal.
Gul said an unbeaten run has lifted the Pakistan team, who will start the first of three Tests, starting here from Tuesday, with extra confidence.
“There is no substitute to doing well and because we have done well in the last one year our morale is very high and the conditions will also help us as we are playing here for three years now,” said Gul of the United Arab Emirates conditions.
Gul admitted a strong England batting line-up with mature openers in Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook will be a big challenge.
“I take every series as a challenge no matter who we play, I try my level best and since England is a top team you try to do well from inside and know that a performance against a top team is more noted and appreciated,” said Gul.
“No doubt Strauss and Cook give them head start and will be a big challenge but not only the openers, their whole batting is in our sights and we need to get 20 wickets in the match to win it,” said Gul, who has 146 wickets in 40 Tests.
Gul added: “Conditions in Dubai suit reverse swing and it will also help their bowlers (James) Anderson and (Stuart) Broad but the difference will be the ability to get the reverse swing and whoever has that ability will get the swing.”
The Tests will be followed by four one-day and three Twenty20 internationals.
Gul should step up his performance. He has been around for years but with a mediocre avg. of 33. The only skills he had in armory were yorkers and accuracy and lately we have seen both been diminishing.
He hardly has any swing and penetration which has been the trade mark and pride of Pakistani bowlers. Pakistan has to find a pair of opening bowlers to raise the bars on the charts and Gul can always be first change/third bowler.
The global cricket fraternity in general and the supporters, fans, players and sponsors of the 'green-shirts' in particular are looking forward to their much anticipated up-coming series on the UAE soil against England, currently rated # one team in the world as per the ICC ranking. What Umar Gul has said is 100 percent right and will add icing on the cake of excitement and expectations of all stake-holders. Only time will tell if Andrew Stauss and his team or Mishab-ul-Haq and party will come out as victors? Nevertheless, whatever is the final result, in the end, it will be the noble game of cricket which will emerge at the eventual winner.
This will be epic. Pak finally has its ducks in a row with the "right" team, while England has to prove its #1 ranking.
A lot of future stars will be defined via the Tests, ODI and T20 series.