Pakistan in England: Review of previous tours
Arshad Chughtai27-Apr-2001England and Pakistan cricketing relations are fifty years old. These ties commenced when Nigel Howards’ MCC team broke-off their Indian leg of the tour in 1951-52 and played two unofficial Test Matches in Pakistan. After the drawn first test at Lahore they lost at Karachi by 4 wickets. Three years later Pakistan achieved the unprecedented feat, on their first tour of England in 1954, by winning one test and thus drawing the series. No other team later or before have managed to win a test on their first visit. Since that historic tour, out of 57 Test Matches played between the two countries England have won 15 against 9 by Pakistan. Shortly, the Pakistan team is scheduled to tour England to play two Test Matches and later to participate in a triangular one-day tournament involving Australia as the third team.Summary of previous results
In terms of results of previous tours, Pakistan’s record against England is dismal – only seven Test and five One-Day victories have been recorded. On the other hand, England enjoys distinct supremacy by virtue of their 12 victories in Test Matches and 15 One-Day wins. In spite of this numerical difference on overall results, Pakistan has been dominating since 1987. They have won all the last three Test series played in England.Looking at all the One-Day Internationals played between England and Pakistan, again the record is not all that healthy. Out of 46 ODI’s played between the two teams, England won 28 and Pakistan won only 17. The one match between the two that ended in no-result, more fortunately in Pakistan’s favour, was washed out at the Adelaide Oval during World Cup 1992.The forthcoming tour will be Pakistan’s eleventh trip to England.Brief highlights of Pakistan’s previous tours of England:
1954 – Series was drawn 1-1. Fazal Mahmood was the architect of the famous “Oval Victory”.
1962 – Worst era for Pakistan Cricket began with this Series lost 0-4. England amassed huge scores and truly cut Pakistan down to size. Mercifully, rain saved Pakistan in the Fourth Test at Nottingham from a 0-5 drubbing.
1967 – Series lost 0-2. Hanif Mohammad’s 187 not out saved Pakistan at Lords and a 190 run record 9th wicket partnership between Asif Iqbal and Intikhab Alam salvaged their honour at the Oval.
1971 – Series lost 0-1. This Series somewhat unjustly eluded Pakistan. Zaheer Abbas scored 274 and England had followed-on but rain cost Pakistan victory at Edgbaston. At Headingley, in the third test except for the last day, they had held the upper hand.
1974 – Series was drawn 0-0. After Sir Donald Bradman’s 1948 team, Pakistan were the only other touring team to remain unbeaten on an England tour. Zaheer Abbas scored 240 at the Oval.
1978 – Series was lost 0-2. Pakistan team was not at full strength and Botham was their chief tormentor with both bat and ball.
1982 – Series was lost 1-2. Honours remained pretty even throughout and the series was closely fought. Imran Khan was the man of the series. Mohsin Khan scored a superb 200 at Lords.
1987 – Series was won 1-0. Imran Khan claimed his 300th wicket and led Pakistan to victory at Headingley. Javed Miandad scored 260 and Pakistan recorded their highest innings total, 708 at the Oval where England were forced to follow-on but escaped defeat.
1992 – Series was won 2-1. England had no answer to the reverse swing of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. Aamer Sohail made 205 at Old Trafford. England won at Headingley and Pakistan won at Lords and the Oval.
1996 – Series was won 2-0. Saeed Anwar, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Ijaz Ahmed gave outstanding batting performances. Waqar Younis was again the successful bowler.2001 – A tough contest expected in the forthcoming series:
Ironically, Pakistan has not lived up to the great reputation, they generally enjoy, in the last few test series. Still, the team is ranked amongst the best along with Australia and South Africa for their overall ability and the tremendous potential they possess. On the other hand England, has shown remarkable consistency by winning four successive Test series against Zimbabwe, West Indies, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. They have applied themselves with sound professional technique and have played methodical cricket. Followers of the game are expecting a tough and competitive test series between the two teams followed by the Triangular One-Day tournament.