Pakistan out to pull down England's 'pillars' Cook, Root: Misbah-ul-Haq

Misbah-ul-Haq

Birmingham (UK): Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq believes knocking down England "pillars" Alastair Cook and Joe Root holds the key to his side's hopes of winning the third Test at Edgbaston. England levelled the four-match series at 1-1 last time out at Old Trafford.

Misbah-ul-Haq

Between them, England captain Cook and vice-captain Root made 506 runs for just twice out at Old Trafford in a second Test the hosts won by the huge margin of 330 runs. But you have to go back to May 2015 for the last time another specialist England batsman made a Test hundred - discarded opener Adam Lyth's 107 against New Zealand at Headingley.

England's top batsmen Alastair Cook (left) and Joe Root during the second Test against Pakistan at Old Trafford recently. Pic/Getty Images

"In every team there are key players and at the moment those two are in really good form," said Misbah of Cook and Root at Edgbaston on Tuesday. "If you really have to put pressure on the opposition, it's important to get their main players out because those are the two pillars of their batting. Psychologically, that can also give you an advantage and damage the opposition if you can get them early, because other (members of the England) batting line-up are struggling at the moment. That's really important for us to just get them (Cook and Root) early and put them (England) under pressure."

Wednesday's match will be England's 500th home Test. By contrast, Pakistan have been unable to play international cricket at home since an armed attack on Sri Lanka's team bus in Lahore in 2009 made the country a ‘no-go area' for top foreign sides.

Pakistan have since established a temporary ‘home' in UAE but Misbah said there was no substitute for playing in front of your own fans. "It can hurt your overall development as a cricketing nation (not playing at home)," Misbah said. - AFP