England vs Pakistan Test series: Combined XI

BOWLERS

#9 Sohail Khan

The 32-year old was included in the team for the last two Tests, with the selectors banking on his accuracy and knack of picking wickets. Like Amir, but for very different reasons, Sohail made a comeback to the Pakistan Test team after five long years, and made the opportunity count with five-wicket hauls in the first innings of the last two Tests.

He jumped to third place in the list of highest wicket-takers in the series, claiming 13 wickets from the two matches. His right arm pace was a pleasant anomaly to a long list of left arm pacers that regularly feature in the Pakistan team.

#10 Yasir Shah

The start to the series was certainly impressive. A ten-wicket haul in the first Test at Lord’s handed Pakistan a 75-run win, and made Yasir Shah the first leg-spinner in 11 years to reach the top of the bowling rankings in Tests.However, his role changed in the next two matches, and he was unable to pick wickets with the same intensity. With Sohail Khan’s inclusion, Shah was back in form, and ended with 19 wickets. He narrowly missed out on being the fastest to 100 Test wickets.

#11 Mohammad Amir

Although his much talked-about comeback to England wasn’t the flashiest, yet, whenever the captain called on to him, he delivered consistently. He took the winning wicket at Lord’s to complete a redemption of sorts at the venue, and managed a total of 12 wickets from the series.

In a series that had a number of good but non-threatening bowlers, Amir held his own, and showed his class, although in short bursts.