The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Collingwood ready for Pakistan bowlers

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Collingwood ready for Pakistan bowlers

NOTTINGHAM: Paul Collingwood is adamant there is no reason why he or his fellow England batsmen should feel daunted by the challenge of facing Pakistan's bowlers here at Trent Bridge.

Pakistan goes into the first of four-Test series starting on Thursday on the back of a dramatic three-wicket second Test win over Australia at Headingley where it dismissed Ricky Ponting's men for just 88 in the first innings last week.

Teenage left-arm quick Mohammad Aamer has been compared to Pakistan hero Wasim Akram while Mohammad Asif was likened to Australia great Glenn McGrath by Pakistan captain Salman Butt.

Umar Gul is a fine third seamer while leg-spinner Danish Kaneria completes an admirably balanced attack.

Pakistan, in what will be only opening batsman Butt's second match as captain, is likely to go in with the same side as played at Headingley.

Ajmal Shahzad was ruled out on Wednesday of the England squad with an ankle injury. Shahzad's place in a 12-man squad has been taken by fellow Yorkshire seam bowler Tim Bresnan.

England is set to stick with a policy of six specialist batsmen and four bowlers that has become standard under the regime of coach Andy Flower and captain Andrew Strauss.

The teams:

England (from): Andrew Strauss (capt.), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior (wk), Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Steven Finn and Tim Bresnan.

Pakistan: Salman Butt (capt.), Imran Farhat, Azhar Ali, Umar Amin, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal (wk), Mohammad Aamer, Umar Gul, Danish Kaneria and Mohammad Asif . — AFP

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