The England against Pakistan ODI series will come to a close on Sunday in Cardiff, when the two sides met for the fifth time, with England carrying a 4-0 lead into the series finale.
After the evenly balanced Test series which ended 2-2, and in which Pakistan probably held the overall edge, a keenly fought ODI series was anticipated. In the event, England have dominated the one-day clashes so far, and only in a few short patches have the tourists even been competitive.
Pakistan probably had their best game of the four at Headingley on Thursday, when early in the England innings they had the hosts reeling on 72-4 in pursuit of the visitors modest total of 247-8.
However, what followed, best illustrated the difference in the approach of the two sides to the ODI game. While England despite being four wickets down still had two quality attacking batsmen in Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow at the crease, with a batting line up that stretched right down to No. 11 Chris Jordan, Pakistan didn’t have a bowler able to serve up the variety of deliveries that is expected in the modern game.
There are no slower balls, or knuckle balls on offer by the Pakistan bowlers, and the nation that brought reverse swing to the world in the 90’s is now bereft of a bowler capable of delivering such a skill.
With no variety able to challenge quality batters, and with the returning giant fast bowler Mohammad Irfan unable to bowl a second spell as he struggled with his right hamstring, Stokes and Bairstow were able to repair the England innings, and their partnership of 103 took the game away from the tourists, and quietened down their raucous following in the crowd.
It is difficult to see England not completing a whitewash when the countries meet in Cardiff, against a side that is ranked ninth by the ICC in the ODI game, and look as if they will be condemned to having to go through a qualifying competition for the 2019 World Cup.
