Mohammad Amir is in “perfect” shape for the Lord’s Test and ready to expose any England frailties against left-arm pace.
Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur reports Amir fully fit, despite the knee injury which appeared to trouble him during last week’s victory over Ireland in Dublin, for the start of the two-Test NatWest Series on Thursday.
He is confident too that Amir is more than capable of seeking out the vulnerabilities among the home batsmen which were apparent through England’s winless winter – in the Ashes against Mitchell Starc and then when New Zealand’s Trent Boult helped to bowl them out for just 58 in Auckland.
“He’s perfect, 100 per cent,” Arthur said of the pace spearhead who took his 100th Test wicket in his 31st match against Ireland.
“He’s fine, ready to go.”
Amir, 26, is returning for the second time to a hallowed venue where he first outdid and then disgraced himself as a teenager – with a wonderful first-innings six for 84, followed by his involvement in the spot-fixing controversy which resulted in his jail term and five-year ban from cricket.
Two years ago, in Pakistan’s 2-2 drawn series in England, Amir was back with some fine bowling which did not perhaps bring deserving figures.
Arthur added: “I think Mohammad Amir is the finest exponent of pace and swing when he gets it 100 per cent right.
“We believe he bowls incredibly well at left-handers, and there will be three left-handers in the (England) top four.
“He’s ready, he’s determined, he’s fit, he’s strong, he’s excited …”
Arthur insists he has no concerns, meanwhile, about the output of key batsmen Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq.
“I’m not at all worried by them.
“They are quality players – their records speak for themselves.
“They roll up, they are big-match players, they’re fine and they’re all batting really well at the moment.
“I’m confident they’ll deliver for us.”
Pakistan Team practice session at @HomeOfCricket#EngvPak pic.twitter.com/CKf9OIH1Ya
He will be urging the tourists to take an attacking rather than attritional approach over the next two weeks.
Asked if Pakistan can defy the predictions of many that they may struggle at Lord’s and then Headingley, Arthur said: “Of course we can, definitely.
“We haven’t come here not to win.”
The South African has a healthy respect for his opponents who traditionally excel at home.
“In their home conditions, England are a different team to England abroad.
“(But) if we play well enough, this is a changing room full of very, very skilled cricketers, very young cricketers, fearless cricketers – guys that don’t fear failure.
“They are an intelligent, skilful bunch of cricketers, who if we get the breaks and things go our way, will certainly put England under pressure.
“There are going to be times when you need to control the game… but for us the best form of pressure is if we can put pressure back on the opposition – and we do that by attacking.
“The emphasis is on taking wickets and on scoring (quickly).”
