Prior backs bowling attack to shine
August 19, 2010 12:03:45 UK
Matt Prior believes England's top order batsmen will be spared any blushes by his side's bowling attack at the Oval in the third npower Test against Pakistan.
Prior made a solid 84 not out yesterday, an innings that could not be matched by the home team's top six as England fell for 233 all-out having opted to bat first.
At one stage England were 94 for seven after Wahab Riaz took five wickets on debut but a partnership of 119 between Prior and Stuart Broad (48) gave them something to bowl at.
Pakistan will go into the second day on 48 for one after James Anderson struck in the final over on Wednesday and Prior backed the attack to produce more of the same today.
"We're obviously below par and we obviously wanted more runs but it all depends on how we come in this morning," he said.
"We've got huge belief in our bowlers that they can get us back in the game.
"We know Pakistan can be a good team. Just because they've had a few collapses doesn't mean they'll do it again but the reason they had those collapses has been the quality of our bowling and our fielding. If we can recapture that there's no reason why we can't take wickets again.
"By the end of the day it seemed a pretty good wicket and it wasn't swinging much, but we've seen all series that the minute the clouds come over it seems a different proposition altogether.
"It seams around and nips about a bit quicker."
Match betting currently has England at 1.001 to win the Test, with the tourists 1.001 and the draw available at 1.001.
Riaz, who was only drafted in to the Pakistan XI after Umar Gul was declared unfit, has spoken of his delight with his first day as a Test bowler.
While Kevin Pietersen has become used to being his side's most valued wicket, Riaz was even more pleased to account for one of his team-mates.
"Eoin Morgan's wicket pleased me more than any other because he has been scoring runs all the time," said the left-armer.
"It was on my mind to get him and that could be a crucial wicket for me.
"Pietersen is one of my favourite players as well so to get his wicket was wonderful but I wanted to get Morgan, he was on my mind the most."
Warming to his audience, he continued: "I just wrapped them up. Next time I want to get 10 wickets, here I only got five!"
Looking ahead to the rest of the match, Riaz was confident about his side's prospects.
He said: "We had a good start and we want a lead of 150-200 to put England under pressure.
"It is a better batting track than the other Test matches. It is a batting paradise, and I have heard a lot about it."
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