Sultans of spin?
England will triumph if they deal with Ajmal's variations, says Bumble
Last updated: 27th January 2012
Ajmal: England must stymie his threat
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Pakistan v EnglandSecond Test, day four
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"Ajmal is a completely different spinner to England's. You don't know whether the ball's coming this way or the other, so how do they go about playing him?"
Bumble
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David Lloyd believes England will win the second Test against Pakistan - if they can negate the spin threat of Saeed Ajmal.
The tourists seized the initiative on day three, racking up a first innings total of 327 - thanks to some excellent lower-order hitting from Stuart Broad - and then restricting Pakistan to 125-4 at stumps.
Andrew Strauss' men - who ended proceedings 55 runs in arrears of their opponents - will have to combat the considerable turn of Ajmal when they bat for victory in their second innings.
But Bumble expects England to prevail, as long as they have a clear idea of how to play the Pakistani twirler.
"Ajmal is a completely different spinner to England's," Bumble told Sky Sports News HD. "You don't know whether the ball's coming this way or the other.
"They've played him very well in the first innings, but he'll bowl for a long time so they've got to keep him at bay. How do they go about it? Do they say let's be attacking? Do they just knock him around?
"The main thing England want to do is knock these wickets over. I think they need two; numbers eight, nine, ten and eleven are all elevens and if they knock the tail out it should be plain sailing.
"A new ball in 20 overs favours England. I don't think it's going to be as easy as other people but England will win the game."
Pakistan's second innings is being held together by Azhar Ali (46no) and Asad Shafiq (35no) and Bumble was impressed by the duo's batting skill and mental resolve.
However, the Sky Sports commentator says the hosts are in a precarious position and cannot afford "any mistakes" if they are to have any hope of salvaging a result.
"The two young players (Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq) did exceptionally well," added Bumble.
"I thought that when the experienced players, Younus Khan and Misbah, got out that these two would fall, but they really got stuck in and showed great technique."
He added: "It's a slender lead when you're four down and I would think that Pakistan cannot afford to make any mistakes. They would have liked to have carried on batting tonight as they were very comfortable."
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