Are Pakistan the new Australia?

Forget the winter encounter with Australia. The hardest cricket England will be playing over the next twelve months is upon them now. My reasoning is that Pakistan can stake a claim to being the number one Test side in the world, based both on the merits of the players and an examination of recent results.

Their openers, 21 year-old Salman Butt and 24 year-old Shoaib Malik, benefit from being a right-left handed combination, and will gain from the experience of playing at this level. Malik also doubles up as an off-break bowler with 162 first-class wickets.

There is no middle-order that can rank with Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf and Inzamam-ul-Haq, who are seventh, fifth and third respectively in the ICC world rankings. Younis Khan returns from injury for today’s Test, hoping to build on the five hundreds he has scored in his last 11 internationals.

In Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq Pakistan have two destructive all-rounders, who can turn games with either bat or ball. Wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal is Adam Gilchrist’s heir apparent, and could come in at number 8. Akmal scored 154 to set up Pakistan’s victory in the third Test against England in the winter, followed by two centuries in the one-day series.

If all this is still not convincing, Pakistan have an array of bowling talent, ranging from the explosive Shoaib Akhtar, to the youngsters Mohammad Sami, Umar Gul and Mohammad Asif, all under 25 years and equipped to dominate batsmen to come. Throw in the leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, and this unit is not far from complete, especially when you consider the role of the all-rounders as well.

Pakistan come to England having not lost a Test series here since 1982. A number of their players have familiarised themselves with English conditions through membership of county sides, and they also exude a unity that was absent in previous teams. This has been attributed to the increasing influence of Islam within the side, but is also due to the lack of big names that dominated and intimidated past sides. Pakistani cricket has shaken off its elitist past, and cricketers now come from all walks of life.

Pakistan is a poor country and this is reflected in its cricket, the majority of which is played using a tape ball, which is similar to a tennis ball and covered in tape to maintain pace off the surface and sharp bounce. Rashid Latif, the former Pakistan wicketkeeper and captain, claims that 70% of all cricket is now tape ball. Mohammad Sami learned reverse-swing with a tape ball, and Umar Gul did not play with a cricket ball until he was 16.

Let’s not pretend, though, that this is a side without any faults. For a start not all of the above players are here, as Pakistan are carrying as many injuries as England. The real weak areas are those that come from the deficient domestic set up, which lacks structure and organisation. They are shown in a decline in the basics, such as fielding, running between the wickets, backing up and playing away from the body.

Pakistan may lack the discipline and intensity of the Australians, but on paper this young team has the players to give any side a contest. Having recently beaten England and India at home and Sri Lanka away, any claims to greatness are made on a solid foundation.