saeed-sohail
4th August 2010, 12:57
England off-spinner Graeme Swann has highlighted the threat of returning Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf ahead of the second Test at Edgbaston.
The four-Test series resumes in Birmingham on Friday, with England looking to follow up their comprehensive victory in the series opener at Trent Bridge with an equally clinical display.
In a bid to reverse their fortunes however, Pakistan have recalled experienced batsman Yousuf who, despite concerns over his visa, is expected to slot into the top-order for the start of play.
While insisting England tend not to focus too much on their opposition, Swann admits Yousuf, who averages more than 53 in his 88 Test matches to-date, is an exception to the rule.
Destructive
The Nottinghamshire off-spinner told Sky Sports News: "We don't focus too much on what the opposition are doing but obviously when a player of Yousuf's ability comes into their team you have to sit back and say 'how are we going to attack this player?' 'how are we going to nullify that threat?'.
"Obviously he is a threat, he's a world class player, but I think the way we are bowling at the minute, especially Jimmy (James Anderson) and Frank Finny (Steven Finn) up at Trent Bridge we won't really mind who we are bowling at."
Anderson, in particular, was at his destructive best in Nottingham, swinging the ball appreciably at high speeds en route to claiming Test best figures of 11-71.
His man-of-the-match display ensured England drew first blood in the series in some style and with more than five sessions remaining.
And Swann was quick to pay tribute to Anderson, stating that any batting side would have found life tough with the Lancastrian on such form.
"It's a great way to start a series, it was what we talked about after the Bangladesh series, trying to carry on that form and keep the momentum going throughout the summer," he added.
"I think whoever we played at Trent Bridge would have had to play very well to counteract the swing bowling from James Anderson. I thought he was exceptional.
The four-Test series resumes in Birmingham on Friday, with England looking to follow up their comprehensive victory in the series opener at Trent Bridge with an equally clinical display.
In a bid to reverse their fortunes however, Pakistan have recalled experienced batsman Yousuf who, despite concerns over his visa, is expected to slot into the top-order for the start of play.
While insisting England tend not to focus too much on their opposition, Swann admits Yousuf, who averages more than 53 in his 88 Test matches to-date, is an exception to the rule.
Destructive
The Nottinghamshire off-spinner told Sky Sports News: "We don't focus too much on what the opposition are doing but obviously when a player of Yousuf's ability comes into their team you have to sit back and say 'how are we going to attack this player?' 'how are we going to nullify that threat?'.
"Obviously he is a threat, he's a world class player, but I think the way we are bowling at the minute, especially Jimmy (James Anderson) and Frank Finny (Steven Finn) up at Trent Bridge we won't really mind who we are bowling at."
Anderson, in particular, was at his destructive best in Nottingham, swinging the ball appreciably at high speeds en route to claiming Test best figures of 11-71.
His man-of-the-match display ensured England drew first blood in the series in some style and with more than five sessions remaining.
And Swann was quick to pay tribute to Anderson, stating that any batting side would have found life tough with the Lancastrian on such form.
"It's a great way to start a series, it was what we talked about after the Bangladesh series, trying to carry on that form and keep the momentum going throughout the summer," he added.
"I think whoever we played at Trent Bridge would have had to play very well to counteract the swing bowling from James Anderson. I thought he was exceptional.