England to keep up pressure

England, 2-0 up in the four-match series after victories by an innings and 120 runs and 167 runs at Old Trafford and Headingley respectively, are set to field an unaltered side, having won a Test campaign for the first time since last year8217;s Ashes success.

Pakistan, in the ongoing absence of Shoaib Malik, are set to try their fourth opening partnership in as many matches with Mohammad Hafeez, out of Test cricket for nearly three years and one of several late additions to the squad, in line to partner Imran Farhat at the top.

There is no denying the quality of a middle-order which reads Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf and Inzamam-ul-Haq.

But so fallible have Pakistan8217;s various opening combinations proved against an England attack missing Ashes stars Andrew Flintoff and Simon Jones, as well as the guiding hand of Ashes winning captain Michael Vaughan, that Hafeez 8212; who made 180 against Australia a last month and can also bowl off-spin 8212; is now going to get his chance to prove he can succeed where the likes of Salman Butt, Taufeeq Umar and Kamran Akmal have failed.

However, Pakistan fans will rightly point out that when it comes to bowling injuries their side has been the harder hit. Pace trio Shoaib Akhtar, Rana Naved and Mohammad Asif have missed all three Tests so far. Their absence has left Pakistan short of a cutting edge.

Umar Gul has persevered well but Mohammad Sami, a few lively overs at Headingley excepted, has had a mediocre tour. And with leg-spinner Danish Kaneria being repeatedly outbowled by Monty Panesar, Pakistan8217;s bowlers have struggled to impose themselves.

Nevertheless, Woolmer was keen to preserve a semblance of optimism by saying of Asif elbow and Naved groin: 8220;They have to be in contention. But Shoaib will not play.8221;

For England, who last year sealed the Ashes with a draw at the Oval, the whole season has been viewed through the distorting prism of the tour of Australia starting in November.

Ian Bell may be on the verge of joining the late Ken Barrington as the only England batsman to have scored four hundreds in as many Tests but the weakness of Pakistan8217;s attack will not have gone unnoticed by Australians who remember his Ashes struggles with Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne last year.

Meanwhile Andrew Strauss, who would not have been captain had either Vaughan knee or Flintoff ankle been fit, has grown in confidence as a leader with his use of Panesar as an attacking bowler.

One ongoing concern for England remains strike bowler Stephen Harmison, a cricketer of either feast or famine. His six for 19 in the second Test showed what can happen when he is in the mood. The worry for England is that when circumstances are less than ideal, Harmison can be anonymous, unlike the greats who still find a way through.

For England though, greatness can wait. Remembering how to win Tests will do for now.