talkSPORT betting tips – Best bets and expert advice for Pakistan vs England 1st Test
10/04/2024 10:13 AM
Two years after sweeping the hosts 3-0, England head back to Pakistan for another three-match Test series against the Men in Green.
The Multan Cricket Stadium will stage the first two matches with England potentially without captain Ben Stokes for the opener, which gets underway on Monday.
Stokes has admitted he will not bowl, but he could play as a specialist batter as the tourists attempt to get the tour off to the best possible start.
Pakistan v England 1st Test
- Ben Duckett Over 30.5 Runs (1st Innings) @ 17/20
- Harry Brook – To Score a Hundred (1st Innings) @ 19/5
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Duckett can deliver in Pakistan again
England will fancy their chances of taking the spoils in this series after their dominant displays in Pakistan a couple of years ago.
It was Brendon McCullum's first overseas tour as head coach and his influence quickly became apparent as England set about getting runs at a breakneck speed.
They smashed 506 runs on the opening day of the first Test in Rawalpindi, setting the tone for a successful trip as they completed the first-ever whitewash of Pakistan in their own country.
England's approach seemed to be a bit more measured this summer, but they still have a lineup full of attacking batters with Jamie Smith the latest to come in and prove his worth.
Zac Crawley is in contention to return to the team and open alongside Ben Duckett.
Both players scored centuries in Rawalpindi two years ago with Duckett finishing the tour with 357 runs at an average of 71.4.
The left-hander has been in good nick in all formats lately as he averaged 44.5 in three Tests against the West Indies and 61 in the five-match ODI series versus Australia.
He had a relatively lean spell in the Sri Lanka series, averaging 31 with only two scores of 40 or more, but his brilliant finish to the summer — the 107 against Australia at Bristol — suggests his game is in good enough shape to make a telling first-innings contribution.
Duckett's first-innings average of 43.5 is significantly better than his second-innings one, so he looks a good pick to go over his runs total here.
Brook may be due another Test ton
Harry Brook is another England batter who will have fond memories of an exceptional tour to Pakistan last time.
He scored 468 runs at an average of 93.6 with three hundreds — one at each venue.
The Yorkshireman made 108 in the second innings of the match in Multan and should know all about the wickets in Pakistan from his time at the Lahore Qalanders in the Pakistan Super League.
Admittedly, Test cricket is a different format, but it is not poles apart any more with many of the best white-ball stars bringing innovative shots into the longer format.
If Brook gets on a roll, there could be another hundred for him in this Test with the pitch expected to have decent carry in it.
His game looks to be in a very good place right now following scores of 110 not out, 87 and 72 in the final three one-day internationals against Australia, and he could impress again in the series opener.
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