SHARJAH // Accepted wisdom suggests the wicket in the middle of the Sharjah Cricket Stadium is usually flatter than many of the roads which surround it. The bowlers’ lot is rarely a happy one at the UAE’s most historic cricket ground.
And yet just one of Sharjah’s seven Test matches to date has ended in a draw. Perhaps the only thing more remarkable than that is the fact the lone stalemate came about because of rain.
In 2011, Sri Lanka were pushing for victory, when a shower laid waste to the morning session of the fifth day. Just enough time was lost to confirm Pakistan were spared.
The final Test of this series will be played on a pitch that was relaid in June. The top surface was dug away, and some soil freshly imported from Pakistan was laid instead.
Team news: Pakistan bowler Imran Khan ruled out of Sharjah Test with hand injury
Podcast: Shane Warne offers his advice to Pakistan and England spinners ahead of final Test
Five months might seem a quick turnaround, but the only evidence to go on so far suggests more of the same tough toil for bowlers.
England’s opening two-day warm up match against Pakistan A on this tour, when 10 wickets fell in two days, was the first real use the new pitch has had.
“It was quite flat, but from our previous experience in Sharjah, the first hour will be quite helpful for the fast bowlers and difficult for the batsmen,” Ali Anwar Jafri, Sharjah’s cricket operations manager, said.
“When there were no lights here and ODIs were starting at 9.30am, whoever batted for the first hour struggled to post runs.”
In the past, the Pakistan Cricket Board have often sent their own groundsmen over to the UAE to oversee the final stages of preparations for Test wickets.
That has not been the case in this series, but recommendations have been made to the resident ground staff.
“Normally they just ask us to give them a spinner-friendly pitch, but if it is like that from the very first day it won’t last till the fifth day,” Jafri said. “I’m sure the first two days won’t be too helpful to the spinners.”
Misbah-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, clearly feels similarly, suggesting it is unlikely his side will pick any extra spinners for this game.
“It doesn’t look like the sort of turner where you can go with three spinners,” Misbah said.
“At the moment that is what our thought is, but let’s see tomorrow what it looks like.”
