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Agence France-Presse

England are in a spin in more ways than one as they head into the second test against Pakistan at Old Trafford on Friday looking to level the four-match series.
Alastair Cook’s men suffered a 75-run defeat inside four days in last week’s first test at Lord’s, with Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah taking 10 wickets.
Now England will hope to play Shah better at Old Trafford, where the pitch is likely to offer more turn.
They also have to decide whether to give a home debut to leg-spinner Adil Rashid, either in support of, or as a replacement for Moeen Ali.
Not only was off-spinner Ali, who has spent the bulk of his career as a top order batsman, out bowled by Shah at Lord’s, he also fell to him in the second innings when recklessly charging down the pitch.


England have now called in former Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq as a coaching consultant at Old Trafford.
While they will hope he can advise Ali and Rashid, his greatest short term benefit may lie in tips about how to play spin.
England have been without a specialist spin coach since former Pakistan leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed, now in the tourists’ camp, returned home in 2014.
Having picked a 14-man squad, England could field two spinners especially as both all-time leading wicket-taker James Anderson (shoulder) and all-rounder Ben Stokes (knee) have been passed fit after they each missed the first test.

Anderson is due to return on his Lancashire home ground amid suggestions that Cook and coach Trevor Bayliss were happy to accept his assurances that he was fit for Lord’s, only for the pair to be overruled by the selectors.
Stokes was looking forward to working with Saqlain, who took four for 74 when Pakistan beat England by 108 runs in the second test at Old Trafford in 2001.
“You’ve got to use the knowledge of the people you’re lucky enough to have come in and work with you,” said Stokes.
“It would be silly if the batsmen didn’t try to get anything out of him, pick his brains and ask how the guys who were successful against him played.”

So keen are England to play ‘positive’ cricket that several batsmen gave their wickets away at Lord’s.
Stokes hinted at a more refined approach by saying: “Old Trafford is known to spin, and obviously that’s going to favour (Shah).
“So we might have to change where you have to think ‘I can do this but no, I can’t do that’, if it’s spinning and bouncing.
“It will just be working out a game plan in terms of how to score, but not giving your wicket away.”
As England, who also have question marks over top order batsman James Vince, ponder their options, it looks as if Pakistan will field the same side, although openers Mohammad Hafeez and Shan Masood may be looking over their shoulders after poor returns at Lord’s.
Having come through all the hype surrounding Mohammad Amir’s return to test cricket for the first time since his 2010 spot fixing crime at Lord’s, they gave fans at the ‘home of cricket’ much else to talk about last week.

Misbah-ul-Haq marked his first test at Lord’s with a fine hundred which saw the 42-year-old perform a series of press-ups in celebration.
The captain’s gesture in thanking military staff for the squad’s pre-tour boot camp was echoed by the team after Amir had sealed victory by bowling last man Jake Ball.


But in pure cricket terms it was Shah who stole the show, and Pakistan fielding coach Steve Rixon was not surprised by England’s struggles.
“I think most countries around the world play ‘wristies’ [wrist-spinners] quite poorly,” he said.
“To see someone master it and play them well is a treat to see, but I haven’t seen a lot that do it yet,” the former Australia wicketkeeper added.


In a spin: England turn to Saqlain Mushtaq to help solve Pakistan problem at Old Trafford

Saqlain Mushtaq in March 2004. Photo: AFP

Britain Cricket - England v Pakistan - First Test - Lord’s - 15/7/16 Pakistan's Yasir Shah appeals for the wicket of England's Moeen Ali Action Images via Reuters / Andrew Boyers Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY.

Britain Cricket - England Nets - Emirates Old Trafford - 20/7/16 England's James Anderson and Ben Stokes during nets Action Images via Reuters / Jason Cairnduff Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY.

Britain Cricket - England Nets - Emirates Old Trafford - 20/7/16 England's Adil Rashid during nets Action Images via Reuters / Jason Cairnduff Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY.

Top man: Pakistan's Yasir Shah leads test rankings after Lord's heroics against England

Pakistan's Yasir Shah celebrates taking the wicket of England's Moeen Ali. Photo: Reuters

Britain Cricket - England v Pakistan - First Test - Lord’s - 17/7/16 Pakistan's Yasir Shah and teammates celebrate taking the wicket of England's Jonny Bairstow Action Images via Reuters / Andrew Boyers Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY.

Pakistan win first test as England crumble

Teammates swamp Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah after he took the wicket of England's Chris Woakes on the fourth day of the first test at Lord’s. Photo: Reuters

Britain Cricket - England v Pakistan - First Test - Lord’s - 17/7/16 Pakistan's Mohammad Amir celebrates taking the wicket of England's Stuart Broad Action Images via Reuters / Andrew Boyers Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY.

Pakistan's Younis Khan (C) leads the Pakistan team's celebration ater Mohammad Amir took the wicket of England's Jake Ball for 3 runs on the fourth day of the first Test cricket match between England and Pakistan at Lord's cricket ground in London, on July 17, 2016. Pakistan won the 1st test by 75 runs. / AFP PHOTO / IAN KINGTON / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. NO ASSOCIATION WITH DIRECT COMPETITOR OF SPONSOR, PARTNER, OR SUPPLIER OF THE ECB

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Alastair Cook’s men suffered a 75-run defeat inside four days in last week’s first test at Lord’s, with Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah taking 10 wickets


In a spin: England turn to Saqlain Mushtaq to help solve Pakistan problem at Old Trafford

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Alastair Cook’s men suffered a 75-run defeat inside four days in last week’s first test at Lord’s, with Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah taking 10 wickets

Alastair Cook’s men suffered a 75-run defeat inside four days in last week’s first test at Lord’s, with Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah taking 10 wickets