Pakistan v England 3rd Test: Third time lucky for England?

Sam Barnard, Assistant Sports Editor | October 30, 2015

Pakistan v England

England out to avoid series loss

This three-match Test will go down as a nearly series for England, after a luckless first two encounters, but they will want to ensure that it doesn’t go down in the record books as an overall loss.

They certainly don’t deserve to come away from in the UAE with a defeat, with just bad light preventing them from winning in Abu Dhabi and coming so close to drawing in Dubai last time out.

Captain Alastair Cook will need to rally his troops once more in search of a first match win away against Pakistan since the 2000/01 tour, which they are tempting 5/2 chances with Coral to do.

Root on top of the world again

Trusty general Joe Root is the man most likely to lead the visitors to victory, after managing scores of 85, 33 not out, 88 and 71 in his four innings’ so far which have resulted in him reclaiming top spot in the world Test batting rankings.

Young Yorkshireman Root tops the England first innings best batsman market with odds of 5/2, while Cook, who hit a mammoth 263 in the opening Test, is 3/1.

Root is also the subject of a Coral match special, where you can take an enhanced price of 11/1 for him to be top batsman for the visitors and his team win (max stake £20).

Surely the last chance for Bell

Veteran Ian Bell, meanwhile, has seemingly been told by coach Trevor Bayliss to improve on his form or face the chop, having managed not one single century – and just four 50s – in his last 21 innings. He is an 11/2 shout.

Others who are not certain of a place this final Test are Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali, the latter as an opener in particular. There could be a chance for the likes of James Taylor and Alex Hales to get calls.

One man whose England career has just begun, though, is Adil Rashid, and he has already shown with both bat and ball that he has what it takes to succeed on the international stage. Rashid, also from Yorkshire, is 3/1 to be best bowler in the first innings for the visitors.

Younis, Misbah and Shah in form for Pakistan

For Pakistan, veterans Younis Khan and captain Misbah-ul-Haq led the way in the second Test in both innings, getting a 50 and century apiece. They are respective 3/1 and 7/2 shouts in their side’s batting market.

It was returning leg spinner Yasir Shah who shone most with the ball in Dubai, meanwhile, taking four wickets in each innings, and he is 6/4 to be best Pakistan bowler in the first.

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Coral’s top tip: Root is on the top of his game, as well as the world right now, so back him at 5/2 to be best England batsman in the first innings.