Cricket: Pakistan Bowl Against England In Third Test

BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom,(APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd Augst,2016) - Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq won the toss and elected to field in the third Test against England at Edgbaston on Wednesday. As announced by captain Alastair Cook on Tuesday, England made one change from the side that won the second Test at Old Trafford by 330 runs to level the four-match series at 1-1, with fast bowler Steven Finn replacing injured all-rounder Ben Stokes, out with a calf problem. Pakistan made two changes, with Sami Aslam replacing out-of-form opener Shan Masood and right-armer Sohail Khan coming in for Wahab Riaz to add variety to what had been an all left-arm pace attack. Left-handed batsman Aslam, 20, made two hundreds for Pakistan Under-19 against their English counterparts on a tour of England in 2013.

The grey skies above Edgbaston promised to offer swing movement to Pakistan's fast bowlers and make life difficult for England's batsmen. "The conditions have been a bit cloudy," Misbah told BBC Radio's Test Match Special. "We know from the last three or four days the pitch has been under covers.

There's a bit of moisture under the pitch. "Bowling first is a better option," explained Misbah, whose side won the first Test at Lord's by 75 runs. "We need a sort of attitude like Lord's.

We need to improve in our bowling, and you need to bat better, we've been struggling a bit." Cook added: "It's an interesting call. We would have batted. "I don't think the 'overheads' are going to change too much over the five days," the opener said. "It looks a good wicket.

It's been under cover for 24 hours and there's a bit of moisture around." This was England's 500th home Test match. They have won seven of their last 11 at Edgbaston, with their most recent Test defeat at the Birmingham ground coming against South Africa in 2008. This was also in-form England all-rounder Chris Woakes's first Test on his Warwickshire home ground.

"We've got a good record here -- it's nice turning up at a ground where you've got good memories -- but it means nothing on day one," said Cook. Teams England: Alastair Cook (capt), Alex Hales, Joe Root, James Vince, Gary Ballance, Jonny Bairstow (wkt), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Steven Finn Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez, Sami Aslam, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed (wkt), Sohail Khan, Mohammad Amir, Yasir Shah, Rahat Ali Umpires: Joel Wilson (WIS), Bruce Oxenford (AUS) tv umpire: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI) Match referee: Richie Richardson (WIS)