Australia v Pakistan: Test cricket at a neutral venue is a welcome addition

Bat and ball / Frank Gregan / 12 July 2010 / Leave a Comment

Is it worth taking a punt on Ricky "Punter" Ponting to top score for Australia in the 1st innings?

"Neutral tests are a brilliant initiative, one that should be applauded and hopefully these two teams will produce a feast of cricket which will serve as the entrée to the main course which gets underway at the end of the month – England's four match Test series against Pakistan."

Test match cricket fans on English soil have been starved of the five day format for almost a year now, two Test matches against Bangladesh aside. So a Test series between Pakistan and Australia is great for all involved, says Frank Gregan.

The amount of cricket being played these days should be enough to satisfy the cravings of even the most addicted but the truth is England supporters have been starved of meaningful Test action since January when they wrapped up their tour of South Africa.

Since then they have played four Test matches, two of which have been at home but all have been against Bangladesh and England have barely had to break sweat to win all four. Bangladesh might have created a little bit of history during Saturday's one-dayer but they are a long way from being capable of producing a shock over five days. Bangladesh have given their all but it's eleven months since a Test match that could go either way was played in England, when the Ashes were regained at the Oval.

The good news is that the wait is now over, the surprising news is that although Test match action is back on English soil, England are not playing. The first Test between Pakistan and Australia gets under way at Lords on Tuesday and it will provide a much needed fix to the many Test junkies that have been suffering cold turkey for almost a year.

Regardless of where your loyalties lie it's easy to sympathise with the plight of the Pakistanis. The political and security issues are beyond the control of the management and the players but they are suffering the consequences. The cricketing nomads have been ravaged with scandals and internal feuding but will be looking to put all their problems behind them this week and a Test win against the mighty Aussies would give them a huge lift.

They'll not be short of supporters, it's reported that ticket sales have gone really well for the first neutral test to be played in England for 98 years. It's expected that Lords will be at about three quarters capacity during days one, two and three with the majority of spectators rooting for the Pakistanis.

Neutral tests are a brilliant initiative, one that should be applauded and hopefully these two teams will produce a feast of cricket which will serve as the entrée to the main course which gets underway at the end of the month - England's four match Test series against Pakistan.

Playing at Lords also gives the players a chance to get their names recorded on the honours board, a lasting testament that is much coveted. Amazingly, Ricky Ponting has yet to trouble the signwriter but facing the likes of Umar Gul and Mohammad Asif (who will be operating in strange surroundings), he may fancy his chances of finally leaving his mark at the home of cricket. It will be a fitting tribute to the little Tasmanian who has a highest Test score of just 42 at HQ.

It will not be the usual honours board, a special one for neutral tests has been erected in the away dressing room and already features the names of Warren Bardsley and Charles Kelleway, two Australian centurions from the last neutral test played at Lords in 1912 when the South Africans were beaten by 10 wickets.

By his own admission, should Ponting be on the end of a third Ashes series defeat later this year he is likely to be seeking alternative employment. This could well be his last chance to make a Lords ton and even the most parochial Englishman or Pakistani would be unlikely to begrudge him.

Pakistan's two wins in the Twenty20s have boosted their confidence and they come into this in good heart with Shahid Afridi declaring that they have "regained the winning habit." That's a bold statement considering that Twenty20 and Test cricket are as close as football/futsal, opera/karaoke and Dom Perignon/Pomagne! This Test should be assessed without reference to last week's action and the Aussies to prevail at [2.08] looks like great value.

It should be a fascinating five days which will allow England supporters the chance to run the rule over their next two opponents but more importantly, witness some high class Test action again.