Pakistan v England: How things went wrong for tourists in Dubai in 2012
But hosts' form at venue has dipped in recent years...
Thursday 22 October 2015 15:51, UK
Having almost pulled off the unlikeliest of victories in Abu Dhabi, England should journey to Dubai for the second Test in high spirits.
But the UAE's most populous city gave the tourists nightmares three years ago as they were thumped not once but twice by a rampant Pakistan.
Here's what went wrong for England in 2012 - and why the recent form of Misbah-ul-Haq's men in Dubai should give them a shot in the arm…
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How did England fare on their first trip to Dubai?
They lost by 10 wickets, so badly is the answer. Having won the toss and elected to bat, the tourists - then under the tutelage of Andrew Strauss - were skittled for 192 in their first innings and 160 second time around. Pakistan posted 338 in between those paltry knocks before chalking off the 15 runs they needed for victory within four overs of the third morning.
Where did it go so wrong?
The batting, obviously, but also team selection. England opted for one spinner, Graeme Swann, as Pakistan went in with both Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman. The hosts' tweakers subsequently ran riot, with Ajmal taking a career-best 7-55 in England's opening dig and then completing a 10-wicket haul later in the piece, and Rehman seizing three second-innings scalps.
Did any Englishmen impress?
Of course. Matt Prior posted an unbeaten 70 in England's first foray with the bat, while Swann - who chipped in with thirty-odds in each innings - seized four Pakistani wickets. If only Monty Panesar had joined him in the XI… Stuart Broad's contribution should not be forgotten either; the paceman dismissing two of the home side's top three en route to 3-84.
Was Pakistan's win all down to Ajmal?
Not at all. As already mentioned, Rehman spun England into a bit of a stupor, while Umar Gul (4-63) produced a corking spell of seam bowling to banish Alastair Cook, Strauss and Kevin Pietersen for not very many and Jonathan Trott (49), as England wilted for a second time. Mohammad Hafeez (88) didn't wilt, one of four Pakistani batsmen to pass fifty.
Pakistan enjoyed further Dubai delight a few weeks later, didn't they?
Yep. After walloping England by 72 runs runs in Abu Dhabi - poleaxing them for 72 runs along the way - Misbah's men completed a 3-0 whitewash with a 71-run triumph. Pakistan started dreadfully, cleaned up for 99, but after restricting their opponents to 141 and amassing 365 - thanks to Azhar Ali's 157 from 442 balls - they secured victory by knocking England over for 252.
Sounds pretty grim for England?
It was. Ian Bell made scores of five and 10 to end the series with 51 runs at an average of 8.50, while only knocks of 32 and 18 from Pietersen swelled his average to 11.16. That said, Panesar, recalled after the first Test, collected a five-for; Broad picked up four wickets in Pakistan's opening knock including those of Hafeez, Azhar and Younus; and Strauss scored a dogged 56.
How have Misbah's side done in Dubai recently?
Not brilliantly. Pakistan have played four Tests in Dubai since they shellacked England and only won one of them - a thumping 221-run success over Australia in which Younus Khan plundered two tons. An innings defeat to South Africa, a nine-wicket reverse versus Sri Lanka and, most recently, a draw with New Zealand will give England confidence.
Is the ground still a spinner's paradise?
Seems so. Seven of the top nine wicket takers in Dubai are spinners - Gul and Broad (eight wickets at 22.87) the exceptions to the rule - with Ajmal pocketing 37 scalps in his six matches at the venue. Yasir Shah, who Pakistan hope will be fit for the second Test, took a five-for in the previous game there, while fellow twirler, Zulfiqar Babar, nabbed eight wickets.
Younus likes batting there, doesn't he?
That's an understatement! The 37-year-old - now Pakistan's leading Test run scorer of all time having surpassed Javed Miandad - has hit four tons and three half-centuries from his eight games in Dubai to acquire an average of 70.83. One of those hundreds came against England in the third and final Test in 2012, Younus hitting 127 before Broad snared him lbw.
Can we expect a winner in the second Test?
History suggests so. Just two of the eight Tests played in Dubai have ended in draws: Pakistan's aforementioned game with New Zealand as well the very first five-day encounter at the venue when South Africa's Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis, as well as Younus, scored tons. Each of the six victories have been comprehensive, too, so expect a belter.
Live coverage of the second Test between Pakistan and England starts at 6.30am, Thursday, Sky Sports 2. You can also watch without a contract on NOW TV.
