England vs Pakistan 2016: 5 player battles to watch out for

#5 James Anderson vs Younis Khan

Pakistan’s most prolific run scorer would be up against England’s most prolific wicket taker

The battle between England’s most prolific wicket-taker and Pakistan’s most prolific run-scorer in their respective cricketing histories is more about reputation than anything else. That the talent, and the hunger to perform are still there (hence the reputation) is an open secret. 454 wickets from 116 Tests and 9116 runs from 104 Tests are the stats for which James Anderson and Younis Khan, respectively, are known.

Surpassing milestones after milestones and conquering opponents after opponents, these two Test veterans would create a clash of magnanimous proportions, if and when they face each other. Although Anderson has been ruled out of the first Test, set to begin on July 14 at Lord’s, the chances of his return from the stress fracture to his right shoulder are pretty much there. The 33-year-old was ruled fit for the Lord’s Test but it was the captain Alastair Cook and the coach Trevor Bayliss who decided against risking their premier fast bowler without giving him proper time to recuperate.

Notwithstanding all that, there hasn’t been a bowler who has exploited the English conditions any better than Anderson and his return to the side, which is only an inevitability, would engage him in a key battle against a man who has overcome his own nation and has proved that he loves Pakistan cricket just as much as any of those who claim to.